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| Official movie poster |
By
Evangeline Han
Evangeline Han
Reporter
MELAKA,
Malaysia – Before going to watch Les Misérables, I logged
into Wikipedia to read the movie’s plot. My Facebook friends had been posting
about the movie and some even mentioned the touching aspect of it.
Malaysia – Before going to watch Les Misérables, I logged
into Wikipedia to read the movie’s plot. My Facebook friends had been posting
about the movie and some even mentioned the touching aspect of it.
Afterreading the plot, I was bewildered. How could they cry while watching the movie
when two of the main characters had their happy ending because of their
marriage? After all, how touching could battle scenes be? Little did I know!
Les
Misérables starts
with prisoners working on ropes to pull in a large ship in the downpour. As
they file back to prison after completing their job, the prison guard, Javert,
played by Russell Crowe, stops one man, Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman,
and tells him that he is released on parole after serving his sentence for
stealing bread.
Misérables starts
with prisoners working on ropes to pull in a large ship in the downpour. As
they file back to prison after completing their job, the prison guard, Javert,
played by Russell Crowe, stops one man, Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman,
and tells him that he is released on parole after serving his sentence for
stealing bread.
The catch isthat his parole is for life, which basically means that he is a condemned man
for life. After gaining his freedom, he finds himself without a place to sleep,
as no one wants to have anything to do with a man serving parole.
After being
chased away from doorsteps multiple times, he finally comes across the Bishop
of Digne, played by Colm Wilkinson, who offers some hospitality. Jean repays
him by stealing his silver at night. When the authorities catch him, the bishop
defends him by saying that the silver was given as a gift. Touched by the bishop’s
act, Jean decides to change and become a better man.
chased away from doorsteps multiple times, he finally comes across the Bishop
of Digne, played by Colm Wilkinson, who offers some hospitality. Jean repays
him by stealing his silver at night. When the authorities catch him, the bishop
defends him by saying that the silver was given as a gift. Touched by the bishop’s
act, Jean decides to change and become a better man.
Eight years
later, Jean is the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer and a factory owner. No one knows
his past and Javert is still hunting for him because he disappeared while on
parole. Through a series of events, one of his workers, Fantine, played by Anne
Hathaway, is fired after an altercation and resorts to prostitution to earn
money for her daughter.
later, Jean is the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer and a factory owner. No one knows
his past and Javert is still hunting for him because he disappeared while on
parole. Through a series of events, one of his workers, Fantine, played by Anne
Hathaway, is fired after an altercation and resorts to prostitution to earn
money for her daughter.
After her
encounter with her first customer, Fantine sings the song, “I Dreamed A Dream.”
encounter with her first customer, Fantine sings the song, “I Dreamed A Dream.”
It was
impossible not to cry as she sang about the pain of dreams dead and long gone.
After her death, Jean finds Fantine’s daughter and takes her in as his
daughter.
impossible not to cry as she sang about the pain of dreams dead and long gone.
After her death, Jean finds Fantine’s daughter and takes her in as his
daughter.
Nine years
pass and France is on the brink of revolution. Javert is still hunting Jean so
Jean has to constantly be on the lookout.
pass and France is on the brink of revolution. Javert is still hunting Jean so
Jean has to constantly be on the lookout.
While on a
walk with Jean, Fantine’s daughter, Cosette, played by Amanda Seyfried, catches
the eye of Marius Pontmercy, played by Eddie Redmayne, and they fall in love. That same day, General
Lamarque, a sympathizer to the poor, dies and a group of students, including
Marius, plan a revolt.
walk with Jean, Fantine’s daughter, Cosette, played by Amanda Seyfried, catches
the eye of Marius Pontmercy, played by Eddie Redmayne, and they fall in love. That same day, General
Lamarque, a sympathizer to the poor, dies and a group of students, including
Marius, plan a revolt.
The
revolution doesn’t go as planned. The town people chickened out and the students
were left fighting to their death. Marius was the sole survivor and he only
lived because Jean saved his life, leading to the emotionally charged scene
when Marius expresses his anguish by singing the song “Empty Chairs at Empty
Tables.”
revolution doesn’t go as planned. The town people chickened out and the students
were left fighting to their death. Marius was the sole survivor and he only
lived because Jean saved his life, leading to the emotionally charged scene
when Marius expresses his anguish by singing the song “Empty Chairs at Empty
Tables.”
Just seeing
the row of bodies and the river of blood in the street made me tear up.
the row of bodies and the river of blood in the street made me tear up.
Marius and
Cosette marry and Jean dies, but not before revealing his past to Marius and
giving his last written confession to Cosette, instructing her to read it after
his death. The closing scene shows Jean being led by Fantine into paradise,
joining all those who died in the revolution and they sing a closing song about
a fight for freedom.
Cosette marry and Jean dies, but not before revealing his past to Marius and
giving his last written confession to Cosette, instructing her to read it after
his death. The closing scene shows Jean being led by Fantine into paradise,
joining all those who died in the revolution and they sing a closing song about
a fight for freedom.
Les
Misérables is a
tearjerker, but a good one. The story was mesmerizing and since Les
Misérables is a
musical, nearly everything was sung, which meant that raw emotions were
conveyed even more clearly. History is one of my favorite subjects and I was
able to appreciate the movie more because of its recounting of history.
Misérables is a
tearjerker, but a good one. The story was mesmerizing and since Les
Misérables is a
musical, nearly everything was sung, which meant that raw emotions were
conveyed even more clearly. History is one of my favorite subjects and I was
able to appreciate the movie more because of its recounting of history.
Two lessons
stood out for me. The first was the lesson about grace and the law. Javert
represented the law. He was a legalistic man who was hell-bent on capturing
Jean. The bishop, on the other hand, represented grace. He forgave Jean and
even gave him the more valuable silver – two candlesticks – while advising him
to use the silver for good.
stood out for me. The first was the lesson about grace and the law. Javert
represented the law. He was a legalistic man who was hell-bent on capturing
Jean. The bishop, on the other hand, represented grace. He forgave Jean and
even gave him the more valuable silver – two candlesticks – while advising him
to use the silver for good.
The second
lesson was the fighters who died for a cause they were passionate about. It is
so easy to take freedom for granted without remembering the cost our
forefathers paid for the liberty we have today.
lesson was the fighters who died for a cause they were passionate about. It is
so easy to take freedom for granted without remembering the cost our
forefathers paid for the liberty we have today.
One of the
very sad parts in the movie for me was the part when the students realized no
one else was going to join them in their fight against the approaching army. It
is convenient to talk about the wrongs of our government, but when it comes to
action, few take the risk.
very sad parts in the movie for me was the part when the students realized no
one else was going to join them in their fight against the approaching army. It
is convenient to talk about the wrongs of our government, but when it comes to
action, few take the risk.
From
beginning till the end, Les Misérables captivated
my attention. The songs were beautiful and the story meaningful. If you haven’t
watched the movie yet, what are you waiting for?
beginning till the end, Les Misérables captivated
my attention. The songs were beautiful and the story meaningful. If you haven’t
watched the movie yet, what are you waiting for?
