This sequence is a prologue, unconnected to the events that follow, at least in terms of plot, but crucial in establishing the concerns and themes of the film. One day, an ex convict wanders into the bishops village and cant find any food or lodging because everyone turns him away. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. Occasionally, like its characters, ragged around the edges, this nevertheless rings with all the. It is saying their condition is that of a prisoner. In early 19th century france an exconvict who failed to report to parole is relentlessly pursued over a 20 year period by an obsessive policeman. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of les miserables. Les miserables is a 2012 musical drama film directed by tom hooper and scripted by william nicholson, alain boublil, claudemichel schonberg, and herbert kretzmer, based on the 1862 french novel of the same name by victor hugo, which also inspired a 1980 musical by boublil and schonberg. Liam neeson stars as jean valjean, and the movie makes its style clear in an early scene, where he stands, homeless and hungry, at the door of a bishop, and says, i am a convict. The film lasts four and a half hours and is considered by critics to be the greatest adaptation of the novel, due to its more indepth development of the themes and characters, in.
Briefly, les miserables follows the adult life of jean valjean hugh jackman, beginning with his release from prison in early 19 th century france. This version of les miserables is a triumph for everyone involved. He adopts the name monsieur madeleine, and becomes a successful factory owner. For starters, its an example of historical fiction because its second half is based on the june rebellion of 1832 on top of that, its an example of realism because it delves and we mean delves deep into the unpleasant aspects of human life by focusing on the. The novel les miserables is one of my alltime favorite books. The two main characters, jean valjean and and javert, have two different views on morality. Les miserables 2012 film jump to navigation jump to search. With fredric march, charles laughton, cedric hardwicke, rochelle hudson. The bishop gives him a place to stay and even forgives him. He is passionately committed to republican principles and the idea of progress. Les miserables study guide from litcharts the creators.
A beautiful testament to the strength of the human spirit. When valjean arrives at the town of digne, no one is willing to. The musical is an epic tale and portrayal of the spirit of the very poor, people who have suffered throughout their lives. Jean valjeans comparison to his time in jail to slavery also help to strengthen this bond. Valjean goes into prison a simple and decent man, but his time in jail has a seemingly irreversible effect on him, and he emerges from the chain gang a hardened criminal who hates society for what it has done to him. Although all of fantines misfortunes are caused by the callousness or greed of others, society always holds her accountable for her behavior. It was directed by lewis milestone, and featured michael rennie as jean valjean, robert newton as javert, and sylvia sidney as fantine. The cast and crew marvel at the costumes, sets and look of the series.
Based on the classic novel, les miserables, by victor hugo, and the classic broadway stage show of the same name, les miserables is the story of jean valjean, a prisoner who breaks parole, and the police inspector, javert, who tries to hunt him down for breaking parole. Fantine is a poor, workingclass girl from the desolate seacoast town of montreuil. Russell goh i do not own anything in this video, goes to the rightful. Based on the novel by victor hugo, les miserables travels with prisoneron parole, 24601, jean valjean, as he runs from the ruthless inspector javert on a. He responds to the understanding and kindness of a bishop, and becomes a successful business man and mayor of a small town. Anyone expecting to see victor hugos les miserables whether the novel, the several films in theatres and on tv or the recent hit musical on stage and in film will be disappointed even though there is a hugo quote and it takes place in the parisian suburb of montfermeil, an important part anyone expecting to see victor hugos les miserables. It was written and directed by raymond bernard and stars harry baur as jean valjean and charles vanel as javert. As les miserables unfolds, these same kids, living in a housing project in montfermeil, are targeted by the police for what is, essentially, a prank, and events will come to an. Jean valjean is an exconvict who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread. The main character is jean valjean liam neeson, a frenchman imprisoned for 20 years for stealing bread. Les miserables themes from litcharts the creators of.
It stars liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman, and claire danes as in the original novel, the storyline follows the adult life of jean valjean, an exconvict paroled following 19 years of hard labor, for stealing bread pursued by police inspector javert. Les miserables is a prime example of two individuals conflicted by the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. The use of the melody from the first song, look down, helps to connect the people of paris with the slavery of being a prisoner. The literal meaning of les miserables is the miserable ones. The cinematography in les miserables is quite controversial in the world of film and theater. I think les miserables is as popular as it is for the same reason that cinderella is so popular.
When les miserable was a stage play, tickets were a very expensive and difficult to acquire luxury. In this sense, she embodies hugos view that french society demands the most from those to whom it gives the least. Reflection on les miserables les miserables, which means the miserables ones in english, is a musical portrayal of the french revolution. Les miserables is a novel that tells the story of jean valjeans struggles to escape his criminal past and provide for his adopted daughter, cosette. Les miserables is a novel by victor hugo that was first published in 1862. Tom hoopers film is a colossal effort after 158 minutes, you really have experienced something. Three cheers for a sentimental musical about forgiveness, freedom, and love that brings tears to our eyes in unison with others. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on victor hugos les miserables.
But this kind of detail plays a larger purpose in the novel. It is telling that hugo sets his book in the context of a relatively minor revolt, the riots of july 1832, rather than the massive. Jean valjean, convicted of a minor crime, spends the rest of his life being pursued by a cruel and unrelenting policeman, javert. But the guy who plays javert is also the guy who played norman bates in psycho, so thats pretty cool. Danny cohen, the cinematographer, and top hooper, the. During this time period, king louis xviii holds the throne for the beginning and it changes to king charles x who is exiled during the july revolution. When valjean arrives at the town of digne, no one is willing to give him shelter because he is an exconvict. Les miserables quotes and analysis buy study guide he myriel sought to counsel and soothe the despairing by pointing to the resigned, and to transform the grief which sees only a pit into the grief with sees a star.
The films brief glimpse of heaven is like some limousine liberals fantasy. Excellent film adaptation of gritty, heartbreaking musical. Les miserables movie soundtrack analysis by sabrina. Les miserables comes to the big screen in all its musical glory. There are four main characters acknowledge the adversities they have faced. Dela cruz, 311 august 3, 2015 introduction victor hugo victor marie hugo, born on february 26, 1802, was a celebrated french author during the romantic movement and is best known for his poetry and his novels including the hunchback of notredame and les. The latest les miserables film has its roots in victor hugos 1862 novel of the same title, but, primarily is a version of the 1980s musical adaptation of hugos work. Upon his release, he finds that he is treated like an outcast everywhere he goes, until the bishop myriel helps him to create a new life for himself. The books opens by describing the life of a really upstanding dude named bishop myriel. Les miserables study guide contains a biography of victor hugo, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.