Priest Daens
In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens 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.
Jan Decleir
Adolf Daens
Gérard Desarthe
Charles Woeste
Antje De Boeck
Nette Scholliers
Michaël Pas
Jan De Meeter
Karel Baetens
Jefke
Julien Schoenaerts
Bisschop Stillemans
Wim Meuwissen
Pieter Daens
Brit Alen
Louise Daens
Johan Leysen
Schmitt
Linda van Dyck
Elizabeth Borremans
Idwig Stephane
Eugene Borremans
Jappe Claes
Ponnet
Brenda Bertin
Marie
Alex Wilequet
Monsignor Goossens
Fred Van Kuyk
Burgemeester Van Wambeke
Herbert Flack
Van Langenhove (Liberaal)
Rik Hancké
Nuncio
Matthias Schoenaerts
Wannes Scholliers
Anna Grażyna Suchocka
Julia
Iwona Hofman
Clarice
Julia Banaszkiewicz
Nini
Brunon Bukowski
Commission Member
Andrzej Głoskowski
Commission Member
Sławomir Maciejewski
Gendarmerie Officer
Leon Niemczyk
Commission Member
Tadeusz Teodorczyk
Commission Member
Ludwik Benoit
Man beside Nini's Corpse
Genowefa Korska
Lisette
Mirosław Jękot
Gang Member
Dariusz Kowalski
Gang Member
Jacek Łuczak
Gang Member
Tadeusz Falana
Gang Member
Jacek Sut
Gang Member
Barbara Połomska
Woman giving out Soup
Wiesława Grochowska
Woman giving out Soup