The Tragic Review of Les Miserables

‘Les Miserables’ screen adaptation is a musical that takes place during the French Revolution. It follows a man named Jean Valjean, and what his life is like. We also follow Cosset, Jean Valjean’s adopted daughter, her love interest Marius, and other characters such as Javert, who is trying to get Jean Valjean killed for past crimes.

'Les Miserables’ is such an original musical. It faces the problem of class conflict: the injustice that our main characters face, as well as the overall looming fear of death that everyone faces. Brilliantly displayed throughout the film: pictures and scenes are created to evoke emotion from the audience. The film uses the camera angles to its advantage as it creates undertones to make our characters feel small or more empowered. Lightening was also used well in this film. Some scenes were met with a warm rosy glow, while others were dark implying negative emotions. One thing that I found truly ingenious was that all the music in the film was sung live. There was no studio time where the actors sung then lip-synced as they acted. It really created more of a connection for the audience to the characters: the jumps, skips, and distress in the actors voices mirrored their acting building a harmony between the sounds and the visuals.

Spoilers if you proceed!

The most impactful part of the film for me was the very ending. Everyone that we have seen die were all collected behind a barricade of chairs, tables, and other furniture. They all sing together as Jean Valjean approaches them with Fantine as he dies. The unity between those who fought together through living and death drives the point of a community. The revolution helped one another find their places, even thought they all died. They continue to do what they think is right in life and death. The final song builds up and shows a close up on all the characters who died. Their happiness and determination makes the scene so much more impactful. The song fro the end was one also sung in the middle of the musical when the revolution just started. With the previous connection to the song, grow feelings of change and defiance for the good.

Another heart breaking moment was when Eponine dies in Marius’ arms. She dies as they sing a duet in the rain. Her hidden feelings finally come out for Marius as he thought they were only friends. The gunshot wound became too much for her when she bled out and died. After her death, the final battle of the revolution begins the next morning. Everyone who was in the barricade dies: Gavroche who was only eleven, Enjolras who lead the group, and the baker: all but Jean Valjean and Marius. After being injured and unconscious, Marius gets dragged by Jean Valjean thought the sewers to escape and survive. This scene displays the challenges with fighting for what is right. It also shows the randomness of death. Although people who formed the revolution were from all different backgrounds, and classes, most of them ended up dying. Death comes to everyone and although the class, life is just as fragile for all.

Overall I give this film a 10/10. The pictures the director captured go perfectly with the mood of the film, as well as the sounds. The music throughout the film was moving and perfectly fit the visuals. Also, I love Eddie Redmayne.

Sami Whitall