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
as Adolf Daens

Gérard Desarthe
as Charles Woeste

Antje De Boeck
as Nette Scholliers

Michaël Pas
as Jan De Meeter

Karel Baetens
as Jefke

Julien Schoenaerts
as Bisschop Stillemans

Wim Meuwissen
as Pieter Daens

Brit Alen
as Louise Daens

Johan Leysen
as Schmitt

Linda van Dyck
as Elizabeth Borremans