Title: Les Misérables by Tom Hooper
Genre: Drama
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. After that day when he stole silver, 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 Thenardiers who was abusing her early 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. Valjean, after knowing her daughter's love, 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. 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: 19th Century 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 ware. He was caught, but the Bishop protected him by saying that the silver was given to Valjean as a gift; 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.
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, a prostitute, 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 kepp it in herself. 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, 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 ignored him. The 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.
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 immdeiately 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:
- Justice and Injustice is considered to be one of the main theme of the movie. During those times, discrimination seems prevailing. They had their own classifications of inferior and inferior. It just shows how crucial economic and political turmoil is during the past centuries.
- Personal Change & Transformation. In the movie, we will see how Valjean's life twisted from a convicted man to a well-shaped man. The character of Valjean simply shows how people could change for themselves and for the betterment of everyone. You just have to be determined enough to leave all your bad habits and just focus on things that could make our lives worth living.
Symbolism:
- Christian Symbols are shown from time to time. God is called in a number of scenes. God's loving grace in this film are often discussed and that without God, our life will always have its missing piece, it will never be complete.
- The Bishop symbolizes God. Even after Valjean's betrayal in stealing his silver, the Bishop never did rejected him. Instead, he protected him. Same with God, we sin almost all of the times, yet he never fails to make us feel like we're all alone. We sin, we are forgiven, we are mostly loved.
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1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?
-Literally, "The Miserables". The title implies that the characters are miserable ones living their miserable lives. One was when Valjean was imprisoned because of a bread he has stolen. And even after he was freed out of prison, his life remained miserable because of society's rejections. Cosette, on the other hand, lived also a miserable life because of how the Thenardiers treated him. Another miserable character was Javert, who was so occupied with his desire to fulfill his duty to catch Valjean. Yet he was disappointed, and later loses his self identity.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?
-Among the characters, I can say I'm more like Valjean. Not because I was imprisoned once, but I know I've done some things before which made my family disappointed. One was when I lied just to have light night parties with friends and I was caught. And one was when I had a boyfriend at a young age, and I never told them about it because I know I will be scolded. At those moments, I knew I could never gain their trust again. They judged me a lot of times (as in), until to that point that I decided to leave home just to get rid of abusive words from my mom. But that was all proven wrong. I proved to them that I can change for the better, I deserve a second chance, and that I am responsible for my actions. Like Valjean, he decided to change and that he lived a new life to prove other people wrong.
-Literally, "The Miserables". The title implies that the characters are miserable ones living their miserable lives. One was when Valjean was imprisoned because of a bread he has stolen. And even after he was freed out of prison, his life remained miserable because of society's rejections. Cosette, on the other hand, lived also a miserable life because of how the Thenardiers treated him. Another miserable character was Javert, who was so occupied with his desire to fulfill his duty to catch Valjean. Yet he was disappointed, and later loses his self identity.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?
-Among the characters, I can say I'm more like Valjean. Not because I was imprisoned once, but I know I've done some things before which made my family disappointed. One was when I lied just to have light night parties with friends and I was caught. And one was when I had a boyfriend at a young age, and I never told them about it because I know I will be scolded. At those moments, I knew I could never gain their trust again. They judged me a lot of times (as in), until to that point that I decided to leave home just to get rid of abusive words from my mom. But that was all proven wrong. I proved to them that I can change for the better, I deserve a second chance, and that I am responsible for my actions. Like Valjean, he decided to change and that he lived a new life to prove other people wrong.
3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?
-For me, the most heart-warming scene in the movie was when the Bishop rescued Valjean from the soldiers after stealing his silver. It was in that moment when I thought of this one person who will never get rid of understanding our imperfections despite certain incidents. This one person who will never give up on us, who always sees the good in us despite our bad deeds. Who never fails to give us several opportunities to change. Who will protect us no matter what, our God :')
-For me, the most heart-warming scene in the movie was when the Bishop rescued Valjean from the soldiers after stealing his silver. It was in that moment when I thought of this one person who will never get rid of understanding our imperfections despite certain incidents. This one person who will never give up on us, who always sees the good in us despite our bad deeds. Who never fails to give us several opportunities to change. Who will protect us no matter what, our God :')
4. What is the movie's message?
-For me, the movie relates to us that it may be that our lives are in misery at times, but at the end of the day, we'll still end up thanking God how lucky we are because we're still alive. In the movie, Cosette were faced with a LOOOOOOOOOOOOT of problems, yet she ended up living a happy life with Marius.
-For me, the movie relates to us that it may be that our lives are in misery at times, but at the end of the day, we'll still end up thanking God how lucky we are because we're still alive. In the movie, Cosette were faced with a LOOOOOOOOOOOOT of problems, yet she ended up living a happy life with Marius.
5. Did I like this in general? Why?
-The story line went good. The story goes so smoothly and that every scene was unexpected. All characters were of importance to other characters as well. After an array of modern movies nowadays, this return of Hugos' writing is new to the public. For the public, it seems amazing to have witness a great novel from a great writer. The cast were amazing Hollywood stars. It seems they were so fit for their characters.
-The story line went good. The story goes so smoothly and that every scene was unexpected. All characters were of importance to other characters as well. After an array of modern movies nowadays, this return of Hugos' writing is new to the public. For the public, it seems amazing to have witness a great novel from a great writer. The cast were amazing Hollywood stars. It seems they were so fit for their characters.
6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?
-The themes I put above was from other's opinion. But of how I explained it, was my own understanding of what the theme means. So yes, I agree with the theme I encoded because for me, the story just wants to instill in us those things and that any other themes are other people's opinions and own point of view of Les Miserables. Anyways, how we see the movie depends of how we understand it; and how we understand it, makes us conclude of what does the movie really depicts depending on our own point of view.
-The themes I put above was from other's opinion. But of how I explained it, was my own understanding of what the theme means. So yes, I agree with the theme I encoded because for me, the story just wants to instill in us those things and that any other themes are other people's opinions and own point of view of Les Miserables. Anyways, how we see the movie depends of how we understand it; and how we understand it, makes us conclude of what does the movie really depicts depending on our own point of view.
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?
-I find the musical genre boring. Not that I hate music, but I think the story was more interesting for a lot if it was just said, not sung. The script was a bit confusing and the singing seems to bore me throughout the movie. But overall, the movie was good :) Personal opinion, anyways.
-I find the musical genre boring. Not that I hate music, but I think the story was more interesting for a lot if it was just said, not sung. The script was a bit confusing and the singing seems to bore me throughout the movie. But overall, the movie was good :) Personal opinion, anyways.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?
-I think the movie was well-delivered. I understood everything, and I find the plot well-delivered. Such a unique story line. I was amazed of how a great writer Hugo is. He was able to relate his message to the viewers.
-I think the movie was well-delivered. I understood everything, and I find the plot well-delivered. Such a unique story line. I was amazed of how a great writer Hugo is. He was able to relate his message to the viewers.
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?
-My life isn't perfect at all. I make mistakes. I disappoint people. I displease the society. Yet, all these things are what makes my life worth living. These imperfections are for me, opportunities to do better the next time. I may not have all that I want in life, but I know I possess such things which other people may not have. Instead of being desperate to change the impossible, I would rather focus on what I have and enhance it. God made us all fair. It maybe that our life now isn't going well, but we should never forget that these challenges in life are what makes us stronger to face the hardships of life and these are what makes us human ;)
Fight. Dream. Hope. Love.
