Daens (film)

Daens is a 1992 Belgian period drama film directed by Stijn Coninx and based on a novel by Louis Paul Boon. The film stars Jan Decleir, Gérard Desarthe, Antje de Boeck, and Michael Pas, and recounts the real-life story of Adolf Daens, a Catholic priest in Aalst who strives to improve the miserable working conditions in the local factories.  It received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992.

In 2008, the film's screenplay was adapted into a stage musical.

Plot
It's 1890. Priest Adolf Daens returns to his hometown, 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. Workers 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, falling asleep and being 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 stop 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.

Nette Scholliers is the eldest daughter of a Catholic family. She is just 17. As her parents have been made redundant, she is the only one who is earning some money to support her whole family. As soon as she hears about Daens's plans, she supports him. Daens is even supported by the liberal party and the socialist party. Jan, a socialist, falls in love with Nette, and both start a forbidden romance.

Daens starts to doubt whether he can really change the bad circumstances. Furthermore, as he chooses the side of the poor people, he gets into a conflict with the rich directors, the Catholic party, and even the Catholic Church. Father Daens is a thorn in their side as he has become a symbol in the hardline freedom struggle of the workers.

Woeste sets up a plot in which he even involves the Holy See. Daens is summoned by Pope Leo XIII and is put before a dilemma: either he stays a priest or he becomes a politician. Daens just neglects the warnings and continues both of his activities. This leads to his compulsory defrocking.

Eventually, Daens convinces Belgian politicians that work conditions must improve and workers must have more rights. Thanks to this action, the directors are forced to invest in better work conditions and to assume greater responsibility in the prevention of accidents. 

Cast

 * Jan Decleir – Adolf Daens 
 * Gérard Desarthe – Charles Woeste
 * Antje de Boeck – Nette Scholliers
 * Michael Pas – Jan De Meeter
 * Karel Baetens – Jefke
 * Julien Schoenaerts – Bishop Stillemans
 * Wim Meuwissen – Pieter Daens
 * Brit Alen – Louise Daens
 * Johan Leysen – Schmitt
 * Idwig Stéphane – Eugene Borremans
 * Jappe Claes – Ponnet
 * Frank Vercruyssen – Louis Scholliers
 * Matthias Schoenaerts – Wannes Scholliers
 * Bart Geyskens – schoolboy