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.
31st October 1989
36 years ago
1 hour 42 minutes
Finishes at 7:56pm
1 win & 1 nomination
6.2/10
56%
59%
Abbé Pierre - A Century of Devotion
Niki
De Gaulle: Résistance
The Rays and Shadows
Shirley
Oranges and Sunshine
The Current War
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Eugénie Grandet
Sarah's Key
Movie data last updated 3 weeks ago on 15th June 2026 at 3:30am (BST). Ratings last updated 1 month ago on 6th June 2026 at 12:33pm (BST). All film data including images and actor information is provided by the TMDb API, but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Film ratings provided by OMDb. IMDb, IMDb.COM, and the IMDb logo are trademarks of IMDb.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All product names, logos, trademarks and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.
