LES MISERABLES

US, 1998, 131 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Clare Danes, Peter Vaughan.
Directed by Bille August.

Nowadays, everyone has their own memories of Les Miserables. Besides the five previous film versions (Richard Boleslawski's in 1937; an Italian version and U.S. version in 1952, directed by Lewis Milestone, a French adaptation in 1957; another U.S. remake in 1978, directed by Glenn Jordan and numerous TV mini-series), the stage musical has become a significant part of people's experience of Victor Hugo’s classic that condemns the social inequalities and injustices of nineteenth-century France.

Bille August's present dramatization is a fairly solemn interpretation and may seem somewhat flat without the un¬familiar musical score to accompany it. Liam Neeson is a worthy presence as Jean Valjean. Academy Award winner, Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor 1996, Shine) gives an understated performance and successfully becomes a menacing Javert, the ultimate policeman with an all-pervading sense of duty.

The first half of the movie concentrates on Valjean as mayor, while telling the tragic story of his youthful ‘crime’ and extreme punishment. We see Valjean's compassion and care for Fantine, skillfully played by Uma Thurman. This part of the film also places Javert and his relentless pursuit of Valjean in context. Valjean's move to Paris, Cosette’s romance, and the barricades make the movie more spectacular and melodramatic, while it remains efficient more than emotional. This version was filmed in beautiful sites in Paris and Prague.

Director Bille August has made a range of films in his native Denmark and Scandinavia, the Oscar-winning Pelle the Conqueror and Best Intentions. He also directed the version of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits.

1. An international co-production, director, writers, performers? An effective version of Victor Hugo?

2. The particularly of the story over the centuries, the plot itself, the convict background, the everyman figure, from punishment to transcendence? The character of Jean Valjean, an exemplary human being? The background of France in the 19th century, the revolutions and the barricades? The relentless of the righteous police inspector in pursuit of Valjean? How well did this version treat these themes?

3. The re-creation of France in the early 19th century? The galleys, the countryside, the towns, the factories, the transition to Paris, the underground and the sewers, the barricades, the peacefulness of the convent? The essential ingredients for Les Miserables? The musical score?

4. The convicts, the galleys, the hard labour? Valjean, young, his having stolen the bread, his reasons? The severity of his punishment? His helping others, yet his bitterness? Inspector Javert, supervising, cruel, relentless?

5. Jean Valjean making his way after his sentence, the encounter with the bishop, the bishop welcoming him, the meal? The silver? Valjean and his robbery? The police taking him, bringing him to the bishop? The bishop, his kindliness, stating that the cutlery was a gift? That there was misunderstanding? His gift to Jean Valjean? The effect in Valjean, a rediscovery of human kindness, the possibilities of a transformation?

6. The years passing, Valjean and his new identity, his using the bishop's money to open the factory, the justice of his managing the factory, the people and their dependence on him? His becoming the mayor? The possibility of a successful life?

7. Javert, the passing of the years, his police work, his never having changed, his arrival in the town, suspicions, his recognition of Valjean? His attempts to expose Valjean, the forged papers? His pursuit and looking for every occasion?

8. Fantine, the prostitute, her having worked in the factory, her illness, his compassion, her dependence on him, in his home? Valjean and his attempts to recover her health? Her longing for her daughter, having sent her to live with the Thenardier family? Javert and his observation of Valjean with Fantine, his getting the poor man whose mind had gone and condemning him as Jean Valjean? Valjean revealing his identity?

9. Fantine's death, Valjean and his recovery of Cosette, the journey to Paris, the deal with Javert? The years passing as they live in the convent in Paris?

10. Cosette growing up, her wanting to move outside the convent walls, the encounter with Marius? Marius and his background, republican, the possibility of leading a rebellion, his friends, their meetings, their political beliefs?

11. The irony of Javert in Paris, as an official, his discovery of Valjean, the uprising? His relentless pursuit of Valjean? Taken by Marius? Marius giving Javert to Valjean, his refusal to do anything to Javert, Javert being released? His bewilderment at Valjean's compassion?

12. The barricades, the defeat, Marius being wounded? The other members of the group, so many dead? Valjean carrying Marius through the sewers? Javert discovering them, the pursuit? Valjean's agreement to surrender, freedom for Marius, Javert agreeing? Javert and his consciousness of what his life has meant, its meaninglessness in pursuit of Valjean, his killing himself?

13. Valjean, Marius and Cosette together, Javert dead and Valjean not being pursued? The possibilities of a life, with Cosette and Marius?

14. The perennial themes of justice and goodness, relentlessness and freedom, grace and forgiveness, in the context of 19th century France?