Germinal

Mid-19th century: In search of work, young machinist Etienne Lantier finds himself in a mining community in northern France. Horrified by the prevailing misery and inhumane working conditions, the committed socialist calls his fellow workers to revolt. Initially, their strike seems to be successful, but soon the miners find themselves caught in a disastrous spiral of despair, sabotage, and betrayal. In Hans-Helmut Dickow's interpretation of Zola's naturalistic masterpiece, its overwhelming intensity and highly praised complexity are preserved down to the finest nuance. Reading by Hans-Helmut Dickow, 2 mp3 CDs, approximately 9 hours and 18 minutes.