Blaze

1991 2h 2m FR

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 2

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

All of Europe was affected by the Great Depression of the 1930s, but some parts were hurt less badly than others. France, for instance, was relatively prosperous. In this grim drama, a sturdy Polish boxer and his family have settled into a mining town in northern France because that's where the work is. Like European "guest workers" in the 1990s, the Polish immigrants then were frequently treated badly by the locals. In this drama, the romantic aspirations of the boxer's son are thwarted by the concerted efforts of the local men and his own family's preference that he marry another Polish girl. After his romance fails, the son becomes a union activist and sacrifices a great deal to try to gain higher wages for the miners, but the contract he works out is reneged on by the duplicitous owners.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Maruschka Detmers
Alice
Jean-Marc Barr
Victor
Tolsty
Pavlak
Thierry Fortineau
Emile
Jean-Paul Roussillon
Dalmas
François Hadji-Lazaro
Gros
Sylvia Wels
Louise
Elżbieta Karkoszka
Maria

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Eric Barbier
Writers: Eric Barbier
Languages: French

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Eric Barbier, shot by Thierry Arbogast. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by José Padilla. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Dominique Galliéni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Maruschka Detmers and Jean-Marc Barr and Tolsty carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0099174 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Eric Barbier directs. Thierry Arbogast behind the camera. José Padilla scores. Dominique Galliéni cuts. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

135 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Eric Barbier, shot by Thierry Arbogast. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by José Padilla. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Dominique Galliéni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Maruschka Detmers and Jean-Marc Barr and Tolsty carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0099174 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.