Written in the 1880s by Émile Zola but set in the 1860s, Germinal chronicles a coal miner’s strike in Northern France. The strike is led by Étienne Lantier (Louis Peres), a young new miner with revolutionary ideals and a soft spot for the pretty Catherine (Rose-Marie Perreault).

Étienne is initially taken under the wing of veteran miner Maheu, played by Thierry Godard (Spiral, A French Village), before becoming incensed by the conditions and treatment the miners endure. The clash between workers and management spins out of control, impacting the lives of the local villagers and triggering military intervention.