Movie Analysis 2

Movie Analysis

Title: Les Miserable’s

Genre: Drama, Epic, Novel

Characters: 

• Jean Valjean was imprisoned in a French prison for stealing bread. After he was released, he was having a hard time giving up his ways. One day, he stole something from a Bishop who provided him shelter during those times that no one would accept him because he is an ex-convict. Yet, the Bishop freed him from the soldiers despite his act. After that, Valjean started to live a new life. He becomes the mayor of the town.
• Javert as the antagonist was born in a jail. He lived trying hard to redeem himself. He is a guard in the prison when Valjean was released and concludes that Valjean will never ever change.
• Fantine fell in love with a man at a young age, and later she gave birth to Cosette. Since they were deprived of money, Fantine decided to leave her child with the Thenardiers demanding a large amount of money as a support for the child.
• Cosette, after she was given to the cruel family Thenardiers who was abusing her during the first eight years of her life, was rescued by Valjean as a vow to her mother. For the next years, Cosette lived in happiness together with Valjean, without her knowing that he was not her real father.
• Marius is the lover of Cosette. They spent their times together unknown to Jean Valjean. After the father's decision to go to England, Marius went to fight with the barricades and Cosette wrote him a farewell letter, which was found by Valjean. Valjean decided not to pursue England because it will break her daughter's heart and he then went to Marius to rescue him, and it seems Marius was the only one who survived but he was wounded.
• Eponine grew up with a wealthy life. Her mother gives her everything  yet he was ignored by his father. She grew up together with Cosette and they fell in love with the same man, but Marius sees her only as a friend because Marius was into Cosette. She was the one who will give to Marius Cosette's letter to the barricades, yet she was severely wounded and eventually just as she dies, she confesses her love to Marius.

Setting: France

Plot: 

Jean Valjean, after he was released by the prison guard Javert, was provided food and shelter by the Bishop who accepted him despite other people's impressions. But at night, Valjean steals the Bishop's silver. He was caught by the soldiers, but the Bishop protected him by saying that the silver was given to Valjean as a gift, with that, he was freed.  Guilty of his action and touched by how he was protected by the Bishop, Valjean thought of living a new life under a new identity. Fantine, after she was caught to be sending money to her daughter Cosette, was left with no choice but to be a prostitute. Fantine was to be caught by Javert, but Valjean intercedes.

        After Valjean knew about the man who was arrested because it was thought to be him, he revealed his true identity to the public so that the mistaken man would be freed. Seeing that Fantine was dying, Valjean was of pity to her, and promised to look after Cosette. Thus, Valjean decided to take Cosette away from the cruel family where she stayed for a period of time, the Thenardiers. Cosette had a series of questions about his family, yet Valjean refuses to state the truth. Marius fell in love with Cosette. Eponine was secretly in love with Marius, yet she knows she was only a friend, so she decided to just be supportive for Marius' love for Cosette. Later, after an attempted robbery in Valjean's house, made Valjean think that Javert has already found him. So, he decided to go to escape together with Cosette. Left with nothing to do, Cosette has to give up Marius and left him with a farewell letter which was discovered by Valjean.

        At the funeral procession, Eponine saves Marius in a gunfight, and confesses her love just as she dies. Valjean, after having been read Cosettes' letter, decided to go to the barricade to save Marius by dragging his unconscious body. Marius was the only one who was left alive. Valjean was given the choice to execute Javert, yet he freed him, which lead to Javert's doubt of Valjean's generosity.Thenardier was looking after the dead bodies and there they found Marius' ring. Javert was unfortunately, waiting for Valjean to arrive so that he could shoot him if he doesn't surrender yet Valjean ignored him. Disappointed of fulfilling his duty, Javert commits suicide.

  Later, Valjean decided to tell the truth to Marius trusting him not to reveal it to Cosette, and that he needed to leave because Cosette's life is in danger because of him. Marius and Cosette got married but the Thenardiers crashed and stated that they saw Valjean dragging a wounded man into the sewers. He showed Marius' ring as a proof, and that, Marius realized it was Valjean who saved him. Marius and Cosette immediately went to Valjean and there, they saw him sitting, dying. Valjean finally reveals the truth to Cosette. The two bid their goodbye, then, Valjean dies.

Theme: Forgiveness, Courage, Self- Sacrifice, the Importance of Love and Compassion

Symbolism: Myriel’s Silver Candle Stick, Christianity



     1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?

The Les Miserable’s film it is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original French title, which can be translated from the French as The Miserable's.

2. Among the characters to whom can you relate to?

I can relate myself to Eponine, because it's such a layered part. She shows so many different emotions, and is constantly questioning everything around her. Her vocal role, as well, is demanding. The actress playing Eponine must be well-rounded and be able to express all aspects of her character.

3. Which part of the presentation stuck you the most? Why?

Jean Valjean, just released from 19 years' imprisonment in the galleys five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family and fourteen more for numerous escape attempts is turned away by innkeepers because his yellow passport marks him as a former convict. He sleeps on the street, angry and bitter.

4. What is the movie message?

In 1800s in France, LES MISERABLES is a faithful adaptation of the massively popular stage show which is based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo. The basic story centers on Jean Valjean, a fugitive who's wanted for breaking parole after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread (and then trying to escape). The dogged and misguidedly by-the-book Inspector Javert is at his heels, even though it's been years since Valjean left prison. Meanwhile, the former convict has dedicated himself to helping others especially Cosette, the young daughter of doomed factory worker Fantine, who loses her job and turns to prostitution in desperation. After Fantine's death, Valjean raises Cosette as his own until they're both caught up in the June Rebellion of 1832 in Paris, when Valjean encounters Javert again and must decide whether to continue to live on the run or take a stand. Cosette, meanwhile, has fallen for the young revolutionary Marius but little does he know that Eponine (Samantha Barks), the daughter of the crooked innkeepers who had initially raised Cosette on Fantine's behalf, is enamored of him. Love and duty are intertwined in this searing epic about faith, forgiveness, class struggles, politics, poverty, and change. 

5.Did I like this in general? Why?

Yes, because this film shows the miserable of people and how they conquer it. And also they were singing a harmony song and every actor showed real emotion while they were singing in the movie.

6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why? Or Why not?

Yes, I agree to the main theme/purpose because it says what does the movie all about.

7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?

The movie Les Miserable's is both majestic and brutal, the beauty of the cinematography and the music achingly juxtaposed against the cruelty and savagery of its characters' lives. Expect your emotions to be wrenched this way and that; the actors especially Jack man  Hathaway, and Crowe have thrown everything on the table, making for a movie you won't easily forget. Director Tom Hooper had the actors sing live as the cameras rolled, and it was a brilliant decision, capturing the rawness of performances that sought to elevate the actors beyond warbling iconic songs in tune. You can feel them living the lyrics, sampling them as if they've never been sung before.

8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end?

 

The book which the reader has before him at this moment is, from one end to the other, in its entirety and details ... a progress from evil to good, from injustice to justice, from falsehood to truth, from night to day, from appetite to conscience, from corruption to life; from bestiality to duty, from hell to heaven, from nothingness to God. The starting point: matter, destination: the soul. The hydra at the beginning, the angel at the end.

9. How does the film relate to the things that are happened in your life? Why?

 

The story is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator who frequently addresses us. The importance of love and compassion; social injustice ;The narrator not only knows what the characters are thinking at all times but also has a detailed grasp of contemporary politics and society that was happening to our real lives now.