At the end of the 19th century, in France, Etienne Lantier is hired and housed by the Maheu family to work in a coal mine. He protests against the misery in which they are kept. When the mining company lowers their wages, Etienne spurs them to start a strike: he is convinced that someday, the working class, still "germinating", will come to terms with all the wrongs they suffer from.

Medvirkende