In the 1890s, Father Adolf goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.

Starring:

Alain Van Goethem, Alex Wilequet, Andre Simon, Andrzej Gloskowski, Anna Grazyna Suchocka, Antje de Boeck, Arthur Semay, Barbara Polomska, Bert Cosemans, Brenda Bertin, Brit Alen, Daniel Dury, Door van Boeckel, Frank Vercruyssen, Fred Van Kuyk, Gaston Bertin, Genowefa Korska, Gerald Marti, Gerard Desarthe, Gert Portael, Gilbert Charles, Giovanni Di Bened

Genre:

Biography, Drama, History