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Description
In this programme John Berger talks about Zola's novel 'Germinal' and illustrates his subject with extensive use of film of Creswell and its colliery.
In this programme John Berger talks about Zola's novel 'Germinal' and illustrates his subject with extensive use of film of Creswell and its colliery.
| Module code and title: | A302, The nineteenth century novel and its legacy |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A302; 11 |
| First transmission date: | 18-07-1973 |
| Published: | 1973 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:22:36 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Nuala O'Faolain |
| Contributor: | John Berger |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Mining; Zola |
| Footage description: | Shots of Zola and his villa near Paris, followed by a montage of drawings and photographs of French miners contemporary with 'Germinal'. John Berger describes Zola's research for the novel. Shot of lift cage descending mine shaft, of cage bottom and underground mining activity, coal face working etc. John Berger describes the conditions and the nature of the work. Shots of miners coming off shift and of pithead workings. John Berger describes the intention behind the preceding bit of film and the gap that exists between the observer (Zola) and the observed (the miners). Shots of boy practising the trumpet for the brass band. John Berger over the film of the boy discusses further this gap between read and imagined experience. Shots in miners' club. John Berger describes the nature of the people. Shots of stage rehearsal and of the brass band playing, intercut with shots of the miners at work or in the club. John Berger discusses the novel walking along the ridge of a slag heap. John Berger emphasises the point of the gap between observer and observed and tries to assess the importance of the existence of this gap in the writing of the novel. For Zola because compassion is inadequate. Shots of pithead workings, English pit followed by shots of diamond mining in Africa and South America. John Berger describes Zola's way of reasoning as essentially middle class but praises him for the generosity of his hopes and wishes. Portrait of Zola at his desk. After shots of fashionable restaurant interior, Berger reads out Zola's comments on 'Germinal'. The end of 'Germinal' is read over shots of pithead, slag heaps. Berger contrasts the hopes of the novel with present day reality. Shots of the village filmed during the programme. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/70901 |
| Production number: | 00525_3011 |
| Videofinder number: | 2584 |
| Available to public: | no |
