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Rating:  - One of my all-time favorites
This re-telling of the well-known "Les Miserables" story is set in the bloody, painful first half of the 20th century in Europe. It opens with a scene of a gorgeous, turn-of-the-century ball, a robbery afterwards, and wrongful imprisonment. Quickly fast forward to WWII France, the Resistance and the awful plight of the Jews. Jean-Paul Belmondo is a truck driver whose decent heart leads him to hide some Jews, and his quiet courage and strength as the Nazis try to find out his secrets are amazing. As he is driving one of the Jewish escapees to freedom, the man regales him with the story of the Hugo novel, which he has never heard. The twists and turns of the story are truly bizarre and horrifying, but amazingly Claude Lelouche has made a movie of hope. The film ends with a reprise of the gorgeous ball in a very different setting. One can only sigh with satisfaction.
This is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. It got scant notice at the time, perhaps because it wasn't dubbed from the French (thank god!) but the subtitles didn't bother my husband at all, and he's hard to please. Jean-Paul Belmondo has a gorgeous, rugged, weathered, expressive face--truly a wonderful actor. The plot is riveting, the music gorgeous--what more can I say?
Rating:  - Light Shining in the Darkness
I really loved this film. Only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because I kept comparing it to what I think is the best english-language version (best period!) of the original tale. That would be the 1978 w/ Perkins, Jordan, Gielgud, Holm, etc. If you get that you have to get the full-length VHS version.
I do have to say that anyone who's passionate about the original should most definitely see this reworking, which reminds us of the story's relevance to contemporary life.
Rating: - A beautiful movie about hope
"After 34 films, I am dedicated to filming hope." -Claude Lelouch
This is neither a movie based on the book or the broadway musical; it is not merely a retelling of Hugo's novel in modern times- it is a beautiful masterpiece that follows a period of time filled with fear, ignorance, oppression, suffering, miserable ones, war, greed, and betrayal. We follow the story of Henri Fortin (Jean Paul Belmondo), whose father died while trying to escape from a prison that unjustly sentenced him based on appearances. Henri Sr. was the driver of a man who commited suicide, and the police assumed that Henri Sr. killed the man. His wife, much like Fantine in the book, does everything she can to raise money for a lawyer, making her son Leopold, who she now calls Henri, work to raise money. She is forced into prostitution. Henri Sr. dies on an attempt to escape, so the wife kills herself. Henri Jr. starts a boxing career, and World War I ends. However, peaceful times never come because soon comes World War II. The Jews are being betrayed by all their friends. Henri is called a Jean Valjean because many people feel that his life parallels that of Jean Valjean. He helps a family of Jews travel towards Switzerland and gets their daughter into the Academy of the Sacred Heart for safety. As they drive they read him Les Miserables since he cannot read or write. He is amazed at the story and feels that Les Miserables can be applied to any situation in life. He starts seeing parallels to Cosette and Valjean.
It is a beautiful story that will surely make you cry! It is in French and has subtitles. I don't speak French but I had no problem with it. I read quickly and I had to rewind a couple of times because the subtitles go by so quickly, but that was no problem for me! I highly recommend this video if you want to see how Les Miserables is so true in today's world and is still a masterpiece. It is a wonderful movie! There is lots of violence in it, so it's not necessarily for younger viewers. it is beautifully done. I only hope they come out with a DVD version in the future with commentary and extras! BRAVO!
Rating: - Beautifully Artistic Film
Where to begin?
The piano music is so dramatic and appealing to the situations. Is the piece the German fellow plays a Mahler composition? Sounds like Mahler. Email me if you know! :)
The recurring themes might be hard to pick up on the first time you view the film...re-watching is greatly recommended.
The plight of La Resistance as well as the Jews is artistically overlapping in betrayal, greed, and especially rage.
Most importantly, for me, is the urge to simply cry. The pathos in this film are so common and low that anyone could empathize with the characters. But, in their misery, they lived a life of perpetual memory making. We should be so lucky to have a such a meaningful existence as the ones who have died and fought to keep their lineage alive.
Rating: - dissapointed
However excellent Liam Neeson's version is, I insist that I asked for the one with Jean Paul Belmondo, the French one. I hate it when I have no choice over things. I was given the same treatment with 'Around the World in 80 Days.' I asked for D.Niven's version, and I was sent a cartoon one(!)
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