TITLE: Les Misarebles
GENRE: Musical Drama, Historical Fiction
CHARACTERS:
- Jean Valjean/ Monsieur Madeleine/ Hugh Jackman-convicted for stealing bread and some unsuccessful escape attempts. He is paroled from prison after 19 years. Assumes new identity and become the mayor.
- Javert/ Russell Crowe-police inspector who is trying over and over to recapture Valjean
- Fantine/Anne Hathaway-struggling factory worker and mother of illegitimate child Cosette
- Cosette/Amanda Seyfried-daughter of Fantine and in the care of the Thenardiers. After her mom dies, Valjen buys her from them and was taker care of.
- Marius Pontmercy/Eddie Redmayne-law student who falls in love with Cosette
- Eponine/Samantha Barks-Thenardiers' elder daughter who helps her father crimes and begging to have money. She falls in love with Marius and gave her life to Marius.
- Thenardiers/Helena Bonhan Carter and
Sacha Baron Cohen - swindling innkeepers who took care of Cosette and ask support from Fantine and ask for ransom from Valjean
- Enjolras/AAron Tveit-leader of Les Amis de/ABC. Committed to republican principles and ideas of progress. was executed after the barricade falls
- Gavroche/Daniel Huttlestone-the child who knows Javert during the barricade. He lives on his own and on the street.
- Bishop of Digne/Colm Wilkinson- an old priest who gave Valjean shelter and saves Valjean from being arrested and gave Valjean the silvers to help him start a new life.
SETTING: France in 19th century
PLOT: The movie is about a convict Jean Valjean released from prison after nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and escape attempts. When Valjean arrives at Digne, no one is willing to give him shelter. Valjean knocks on the door of a church and the kind bishop let Valjean stay for the night but Valjean steal the silverworks. When police arrested Valjean, bishop of Digne said that those silverworks is a gift. Police release him and the Bishop let Valjean make a promise to become an honest man. Then after Valjean had a new identity as Madeleine and eventually becomes the town's mayor. Valjean met Fantine, a young woman who works on Valjean's factory to support her child Cosette who is under the care of Thenardiers but when her coworkers find out about her having illegitimate child she is fired. Fantine resorts to prostitution to support her child but later Fantine died due to illness. On the other hand, Javert tells Madeleine that a man has been accused of Jean Valjean and Madeleine confesses his true identity. Javert shows up to arrest Valjean but was able to escape. Valjean then ransom Cosette from Thenardiers to fulfill his promise to Fantine. Javert discovers their hideout and they are forced to flee. Then again Javert is always on the run for valjean and Valjean transfer from one location to other.
One day, Marius sees Cosette and it is love at first sight. Eponine, Thenardier's daughter who is in love with Marius helps Marius discover Cosette's whereabouts. Since Marius was devastated that Cosette is moving to England he join his friends to ho started a political uprising. Marius leads the barricade. Soon they discover Javert is a spy and ties him up. Barricade fail and Epinone dies when she throw herself to protect Marius from being shot. Valjean volunteers to join the barricade and save the life of Marius. Valjean sets Javert free and since javert was torn between his duty and debt from Valjean he throw himself from the river and drowns.
Marius and Cosette got married. Valjean confessed his past to Marius and agrees to leave Cosette. Depressed Valjean wait his death but as soon as Marius learned that he was save by Valjean, Marius went to Valjean for reconciliation and reunited. Valjean dies in peace.
One day, Marius sees Cosette and it is love at first sight. Eponine, Thenardier's daughter who is in love with Marius helps Marius discover Cosette's whereabouts. Since Marius was devastated that Cosette is moving to England he join his friends to ho started a political uprising. Marius leads the barricade. Soon they discover Javert is a spy and ties him up. Barricade fail and Epinone dies when she throw herself to protect Marius from being shot. Valjean volunteers to join the barricade and save the life of Marius. Valjean sets Javert free and since javert was torn between his duty and debt from Valjean he throw himself from the river and drowns.
Marius and Cosette got married. Valjean confessed his past to Marius and agrees to leave Cosette. Depressed Valjean wait his death but as soon as Marius learned that he was save by Valjean, Marius went to Valjean for reconciliation and reunited. Valjean dies in peace.
THEME: The movie represent the importance of love and compassion, the social injustices during the 19th century and the forgiveness of valjean to Javert.
SYMBOLISM:
- Silver Candlestick: When the bishop of Digne gave the silver candlestick to Valjean it symbolizes compassion and trust as the bishop passes the light to Valjean. The bishop told Valjean that as he gave the candlestick to Valjean he must promise to become an honest man. When Valjean dies, the candlesticks shine brightly that symbolizes that he reached his goal of love and compassion.
- Red Flag: it Symbolizes revolution and in the movie, Marius, Gavroche and Enjolras raise the red flag as a symbol that they are ready to fight against the injustices and to fight for the freedom and democracy.
1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?
The french title Les Miserables when translated to english as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched and The Poor Ones and the relation of the title to the film is that the movie told us about the social injustices of the oppressed people. It is a struggle of the prisoners who were treated as slaves, exconvict who struggles most of his life to find peace and the injustices of the people from the king.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?
I can relate to Jean Valjean. Jan Valjean struggles most of his life to find peace and acceptance, just like him in life I need to face every endeavors that comes to my way.
3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?
In the movie, what struck me most is when Valjean released Javert during the time when he captured in the barricade. In that part it shows how forgiving he is. Javert, all his life he run after Valjean and when it was Valjean turn to capture him, instead of killing Javert to solve his problem he let Javert go.
4. What is the movie’s message?
The movie's message is that in life struggles will always be there but it depends on us how to over come it and use it as our inspiration to be better. Our past is never a hindrance to our future.
5. Did I like this in general? Why?
I like the movie because I have learned many lessons from the movie. The movie is inspiring and I can relate to it.
6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree with the theme because it is realistic and we can relate so much to the movie. The sacrifices that the story is trying to convey and the love and compassion.
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?
I'm not into musical so I need to focus very hard to the movie. I like the story since I can learn so many things from it.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?
If the revolution continues since in the movie it was only radical students who barricade and the barricade did fail. It was not also clear to me the role of the child Gavroche and if he knows that the Thenardiers was his parents.
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?
The film is about struggles and oppression and ones in our life we did struggle and we felt oppressed. What I am today is because I work hard for it. I struggle inorder for me to survive. Life never promise us that it is going to be a smooth ride and I never expect that it is going to smooth. Ones in my life I felt oppressed and I am aware of all the injustices that we had. The corruption that lead to poverty and crimes, the injustices of our laws and all of them it was shown on the film. I learned also that poverty is never a hindrance to our success in the future and forgiving is one of the key to find peace in our heart.
The french title Les Miserables when translated to english as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched and The Poor Ones and the relation of the title to the film is that the movie told us about the social injustices of the oppressed people. It is a struggle of the prisoners who were treated as slaves, exconvict who struggles most of his life to find peace and the injustices of the people from the king.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?
I can relate to Jean Valjean. Jan Valjean struggles most of his life to find peace and acceptance, just like him in life I need to face every endeavors that comes to my way.
3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?
In the movie, what struck me most is when Valjean released Javert during the time when he captured in the barricade. In that part it shows how forgiving he is. Javert, all his life he run after Valjean and when it was Valjean turn to capture him, instead of killing Javert to solve his problem he let Javert go.
4. What is the movie’s message?
The movie's message is that in life struggles will always be there but it depends on us how to over come it and use it as our inspiration to be better. Our past is never a hindrance to our future.
5. Did I like this in general? Why?
I like the movie because I have learned many lessons from the movie. The movie is inspiring and I can relate to it.
6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree with the theme because it is realistic and we can relate so much to the movie. The sacrifices that the story is trying to convey and the love and compassion.
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?
I'm not into musical so I need to focus very hard to the movie. I like the story since I can learn so many things from it.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?
If the revolution continues since in the movie it was only radical students who barricade and the barricade did fail. It was not also clear to me the role of the child Gavroche and if he knows that the Thenardiers was his parents.
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?
The film is about struggles and oppression and ones in our life we did struggle and we felt oppressed. What I am today is because I work hard for it. I struggle inorder for me to survive. Life never promise us that it is going to be a smooth ride and I never expect that it is going to smooth. Ones in my life I felt oppressed and I am aware of all the injustices that we had. The corruption that lead to poverty and crimes, the injustices of our laws and all of them it was shown on the film. I learned also that poverty is never a hindrance to our success in the future and forgiving is one of the key to find peace in our heart.
