Daens (film)
| Daens | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Stijn Coninx |
| Produced by |
Dirk Impens Jean-Luc Ormières Maria Peters Hans Pos Dave Schram |
| Written by |
François Chevallier Stijn Coninx Addy Weijers |
| Based on |
Pieter Daens by Louis Paul Boon |
| Starring |
Jan Decleir Gérard Desarthe Antje de Boeck Michael Pas |
| Music by | Dirk Brossé |
| Cinematography | Walther van den Ende |
| Edited by | Ludo Troch |
| Distributed by | Shooting Star Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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138 minutes |
| Country | Belgium Netherlands France |
| Language | Dutch French Latin |
Daens is a 1992 Belgian film directed by Stijn Coninx, after a novel by Louis Paul Boon. This 1992 drama starring Jan Decleir, Gérard Desarthe, Antje de Boeck and Michael Pas, tells the true story of Adolf Daens, a Catholic priest in Aalst who strives to improve the miserable working conditions in the local factories. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992.
In 2008 the film's screenplay was adapted into a stage musical.
It's 1890. Priest Adolf Daens returns to his , the Belgian municipality Aalst, after a dispute with bishop Antoon Stillemans. Daens moves in with his brother Pieter, publisher of the local newspaper "Land Van Aelst".
Daens is upset when he hears about the bad work conditions in the textile industry. Workmen are abused and exploited by the rich directors only for their own profit. To gain more profit, the companies have just decided to fire all men. They are replaced by women as their wages are much lower. Children need to work day and night, fall asleep and are flattened under the mechanical looms. Industrial accidents happen continuously and the management takes no action.
A new catastrophe will soon happen: Stephane Borremans is about to fire 50% of his employees. His action is supported by Charles Woeste, a foreman of the Catholic-Party fraction in the Chamber of Representatives. Daens resists and wants to finish the atrocity. Pieter helps him in his task by publishing the misbehaviours in the textile industry in his newspaper. Daens becomes a pulpit and, later on, also a member of the Chamber of Representatives.
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