Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre 35 years old

Postwar France was slow to recover from the after-effects of the World War Two. The economy was doing poorly, and many people were poor and homeless, sleeping under bridges, etc. The winter of 1953-54 proved particularly difficult for these people, as it was one of the coldest on record. Father Pierre (Lambert Wilson), a parish priest, on seeing the suffering of these people (and their frequent death from the cold), was moved to write the French government seeking help for them. When his letter, which was published in the newspapers, succeeded in rousing overwhelming popular support for helping the homeless, he was able to form a charitable group (still active today) titled "Les Chiffoniers d'Emmaus," or "The Ragpickers of Emmaus" to channel help to them. This biographical film tells the true story of Abbe Pierre's successful efforts in those years.

Credits

Lambert Wilson as L'abbé Pierre

Claudia Cardinale as Hélène Larmier

Wladimir Yordanoff as Le sénateur Charmat

Maxime Leroux as Le député Robert Buron

Antoine Vitez as Le ministre de l'Intérieur

Robert Hirsch as Raoul

Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre Cast

Name	Character
Lambert Wilson He was 31, now 66 years old	as L'abbé Pierre
Claudia Cardinale She was 51, now 86 years old	as Hélène Larmier
Wladimir Yordanoff He was 35, now 70 years old	as Le sénateur Charmat
Maxime Leroux He was 38, 58 years old when he died	as Le député Robert Buron
Antoine Vitez was 59, 60 years old when died	as Le ministre de l'Intérieur
Robert Hirsch He was 64, 92 years old when he died	as Raoul
Bernie Bonvoisin He was 33, now 68 years old	as Castaing, dit "la Castagne"

Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre Crew

Name	Department

Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre (35 years)

Release day: Tuesday, October 31, 1989
Runtime: 102 minutes