Misère au borinage

Documentary about the miners' situation in the Borinage during the massive strikes of 1932. Due to the increasing number of accidents and the unremitting wage reductions the miners ceased work, but the strike was broken and retaliations followed. Owing to solidarity among the miners, the victims of the strike were aided in defying hunger, unemployment and eviction. The film also contains devised images of a May 1st demonstration, an eviction and of people deceiving a bailiff. Apart from the original silent version (1934) and a Russian version with sound (1935), there is also a version of MISÈRE AU BORINAGE which was re-edited by a French producer, but never finished. (This film is not part of the programme 'Joris Ivens: the nitrate collection'. This film was added by Mrs. Loridan-Ivens in order to present a more complete concept of his body of works.)