Daens

Feb 25 1993 N/A 2h 18m
Biography, Drama, History

In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.

Plot

In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.

Written by

Fernand Auwera, Louis Paul Boon, François Chevallier

Directed by

Stijn Coninx

Cast

Jan Decleir, Gérard Desarthe, Antje de Boeck

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Belgium, France, Netherlands

Production Companies

Dérives Productions, Shooting Star Filmcompany, Favourite Films

Languages

Français, Latin, Español, Nederlands

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 10 wins & 4 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
4,476
Average Rating
7.5 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA