Germinal ★★★ 1993 (R)

Recounts the struggle of working-class coal miners in France, led by Depardieu and wife MiouMiou, to stave off poverty. While greedy investors debate how far they should lower miners' wages, the Maheu family, spurred on by newly arrived Marxist and offcamera French pop star Renaud, lead a strike. Minor themes revolving around management's adulterous adventures provide some momentary relief to relieve short attention spans. Seems so selfconsciously an epic drama, however, that the overall effect is ponderous. Adaptation of the 19th century novel by Zola. In French with English subtitles. 158m/C VHS . FR Gerard Depardieu, MiouMiou, Bernard Fresson, Jean Carmet, Laurent Terzieff, Anny (Annie Legras) Duperey, Renaud, Jacques Dacqmine, Judith Henry; D: Claude Berri; W: Claude Berri, Arlette Langmann; C: Yves Angelo; M: JeanLouis Roques. Cesar ‘94: Cinematog., Costume Des.

ger·mi·nal / ˈjərmənl/ • adj. relating to or of the nature of a germ cell or embryo. ∎  in the earliest stage of development. ∎  providing material for future development: the subject was revived in a germinal article by Charles Ferguson.DERIVATIVES: ger·mi·nal·ly adv.

Ger·mi·nal / ˈjərmənl/ • n. the seventh month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from March 21 to April 19.

Germinal the seventh month of the French Republican calendar (1793–1805), originally running from 21 March to 19 April. The name is French, from Latin germen, germin- ‘sprout, seed’.

germinal (jer-min-ăl) adj.
1. relating to the early developmental stages of an embryo or tissue.

2. relating to a germ.