Groenten uit Balen (film)

Groenten uit Balen (lit.'Vegetables from Balen') is a 2011 Belgian drama film adaption of the book eponymous play by Walter van den Broeck. The overall story is based upon real events.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Groenten uit Balen
Film poster
Directed byFrank van Mechelen
StarringStany Crets
Evelien Bosmans
Release date
  • 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryBelgium
LanguageDutch

Synopsis

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Family Debruyker lives in Balen in a rather poor neighborhood with outdated houses. Father Jan works at Vieille Montagne. When the workmen find out their colleagues at the sites in Hoboken and Liège earns 10 Belgian franc per hour more for similar work, they start a strike which takes 9 weeks. Due to the strike they have no income at all. Jef Sleeckx, at that time only a local politician and member of the town council of Mol, convinces banks and landlords to temporary suspend loans and rents. Local groceries give the strikers food for free, charity is set up... Meanwhile daughter Germaine is sure the local environment is poisoned with zinc and lead and is the cause of health issues by nearby living persons. She becomes pregnant of Luc but he ends the relationship. Germaine looses her job at the GB in Mol after she is found guilty of thievery of a box of chewing gum. Mother Clara visits the rich parents of Luc with the intention Luc must give financial support for the raise of the child, but she is bribed with expensive chocolates and other things. Grandfather is against the strike as the workmen must be happy to have a job and must undergo all decisions made by the board. At the end the board of directors bows and give better conditions than demanded.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Willocx, Christof (17 February 2020). "Jef Sleeckx (83) bracht heel wat stakingen tot een goed einde: "Wij dreigden ermee ratten los te laten"" [Jef Sleeckx (83) brought many strikes to a successful conclusion: “We threatened to release rats”]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ Maes, Tommy (24 December 2011). "Staking Vieille Montagne was keerpunt voor Kempen" [Vieille Montagne strike was a turning point for Campine]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "De staking bij Vieille Montagne is niet te vergelijken met die in Genk" [The strike at Vieille Montagne cannot be compared to the one in Genk]. De Morgen (in Dutch). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. ^ Maes, Tommy (22 November 2010). "Balen-Wezel keert terug naar woelige staking van 1971" [Balen-Wezel returns to the turbulent strike of 1971]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  5. ^ Ons erfdeel [Our inheritance] (in Dutch). Stichting Ons Erfdeel. 2002.
  6. ^ De Roo, Marc (7 May 2022). "Zware vervuiling kost Umicore ruim 100 miljoen" [Heavy pollution costs Umicore more than 100 million]. De Tijd (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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