Title: Les Misérables
Genre: Historical Fiction, Musical
Characters:
Jean Valjean - an ex-convict who became a successful businessman.
Javert - the policeman who hunts Jean Valjean for decades
Fantine - a poor working-class girl who have been fired by her coworkers for indecency. Mother of Cosette.
Cosette- the child who rescued by Jean Valjean from Thénardiers. Daughter of Fantine.
Thénardiers - dishonest couples who scam customers to gain money and treated Cosette with cruelty. Parents of Eponine
Eponine - daughter of Thénardiers. She is inlove with Marius and acts as a messenger between the 2. (Marius and Cosette)
Marius- a man inlove with Cosette.
Setting: France. Nineteenth century french uprising.
Plot: Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Miserables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
Theme: Poverty. The most important theme the novel examines is that of transformation, in the individual and in society. Jean Valjean, the chief protagonist, is transformed from a misanthropic and potentially violent ex-convict to a man capable of heroic love and self-sacrifice.
Symbolism: Silver Candle Holder - Symbolizes faith, love and hope. Jean Valjean received the silverware from bishop myriel when he was arrested after stealing some silverware. For me it was the turning point in Jean Valjean's life. He surrendered to God to become a better, honest and loving person.
1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole? - The film Les Miserables for me is a reflection of what France was in its dark times. The degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and social asphyxia. Les Miserables shows the different sides of men. Men can achieve his dreams if given a chance. The miserable ones, as the title of the film depicts the suffering of french men in the nineteenth century. The characters Jean Valjean, Fantine, Javert, Cosette, Thénardiers and Eponine shows the title of the film ( Les Mesirables). Jean Valjean was miserable in first part of the story for he was an ex-convict looking for a job and opportunity after being paroled with condition but broke it. Javert was also miserable because he wasn't able to capture Jean Valjean and keep on evading him for decades. Fantine was also mesirable cause she lost her job in a factory and was not able to provide for cosette although she sold her hair, tooth and dignity in exchange for a few francs. Cosette the poor little daughter of Fantine was struggling to survive in the inn were Thenardiers own. Thenardiers can also be consider miserable because even they own an inn but they were still incapable to lift there social status. They were stealing their customers personal belongings and doing some tricks to increase income. While Eponine their daughter was jealous to Cosette because his beloved Marius was inlove to Cosette.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to? - I can relate to Jean Valjean and Fantine. Jean Valjean was an honest man but due to poverty and starvation, he stole bread to feed his starving sister and her family. Same with Fantine, she sold her hair, tooth and her dignity for her daughter Cosette. I can relate to these two characters because I will do anything as well for the benefit of my loved ones. Though I've made wrong choices in life the important is I've found my way back again. As for Jean Valjean his turning point was when he has no place to stay yet he was welcome by the bishop and though he stole and ran away from the convent he was still welcomed by the bishop and called him brother. In Fantine's case, her turning point was when she was rescued by Jean Valjean from the authorities after being accused of harassment by a gentleman. She accepted Jean Valjean and trusted men again. I also have my turning point in life, meeting the right partner and helped me chose the right path. Though I was given a lot of chances and opportunities I think this is the right and last one. :)
3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why? - When Fantine lost her job in a factory and out of desperation to send some money for her daughter Cosette, Fantine sold her hair, tooth and her dignity for a few pieces of francs. That part for me struck the most because you can feel the love of a parent to his/her child. The degree of scene was intense and the message that was presented was clear as well. Even though she lost her trust to men but she still managed to recover because she didn't lost her faith. Jean Valjean brought her to the hospital but she died and Jean Valjean promised to take care of her daughter.
4. What is the movie’s message? - The message of the movie was about faith, love, acceptance, the will to survive, sacrifice, hope, patriotism, social status and a lot more. When Jean Valjean was down and had no one to cling on, he met the bishop of digne who accepted and welcomed him as a brother on the convent. Jean became an honest man and lived a normal life as a mayor through his faith and acceptance. Fantine showed her love for her daughter Cosette by sacrificing and even selling her hair, tooth and her dignity for a couple of francs. The will to survive was shown by Monsieur Thenardier and Madame Thenardier. They own the inn were cosette lives. The Thenardier's were keen in stealing their customers belongings to live an easy life. Enjolras as the leader of Les Amis de l'ABC (Friends of the ABC) showed hope and patriotism to his fellow comrades. There are a lot of messages in film that depicts anyone in the society even today.
5. Did I like this in general? Why? - Yes, Once Victor Hugo's novel, then Cameron Mackintosh's stage musical, and now Tom Hooper's movie, the beloved tale of lives in the gutters of the 19th century France. The film was almost identical to the stage version. Apparently this was one adaptation effort too many. Les Mesirables is extraordinarily sentimental, and will be challenging to some and catnip to others. For me the film was as expected with high impact. The message and lessons learned were clear and I was hoping for more.
6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not? Yes, The most important theme the novel examines is that of transformation, in the individual and in society. Jean Valjean, the chief protagonist, is transformed from a misanthropic and potentially violent ex-convict to a man capable of heroic love and self-sacrifice. Jean Valjean was changed that he took care of Fantine's daughter Cosette and chose to do the right thing even it cause harm on him.
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why? - I like the way Victor Hugo pointed out the nature of man. The will to change showed by Jean Valjean and the perseverance shown by Javert as he pursuit Jean for decades. The love of Fantine for Cosette and the patriotism of the students involved in the uprising. I also like the time selected by Hugo and location. Well thought of one thing I don't like in Les Miserables, it was shorten in the film compared to the stage though it was almost identical. I like the musical theme as well cause nowadays films are just narrative or first person conversation while the Les Miserables was different. New generation viewers often expected none musical cause it is usually presented in theaters.
Just to share while I'm in manila for business, lunch time in taft avenue I was starving and I was looking for a place to take my lunch but then I'm in a hurry so I decided to eat in a fast food chain (Jollibee). I was eating and there was two conyos (Rich kids?). They were talking loud and clear on the other table just behind me and the topic was about Les Miserables. I was so shocked that they were talking as if they love it, but then to my surprised they can't even pronounce the movie right. They were bored about it and they can't appreciate the singing of the script . It is one example how the viewers react to the film. New generations can barely appreciate the musical theme, sad to say.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why? - The degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and social asphyxia are not solved. In the end of the film Jean Valjean was happy and contented for Cosette and the song of the people were sung again for freedom but man were still hungry and women are ruin by starvation as well as the dwarfing of childhood. Though I was not able to read the book itself I was hoping in the film that Tom Hooper may uplift the lives of the french.
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life? - Some scenes on the film are quite same to whats happening in my life today. I'll do anything for my loved ones. We always face hard choices in life that we thought we couldn't handle. These are just test to what we will become in the future. It is hard to leave someone you truly loved, but it is hurts the most and painful to the one's left behind. But then we need to make some sacrifices for ourselves and for others. Word of honor is hard to prove now a days.
