Theatrical Redemption

From prequels to musicals. We are having an entertaining interlude during the holidays. I saw Les Miserables this evening. My daughter and I had seen the Broadway version many years ago and it was the highlight of our trip to New York. We'd been awaiting this new version eagerly for months.

Much has already been written about the acting and singing in this film version of the much loved classic. I thought Russell Crowe held his own nicely as Javert and his voice was better than what I had expected. (Besides didn't Pierce Brosnan teach us all that we can be entertained by actors with less than stellar singing voices?) Anne Hathoway's portrayal of Fantine is heartbreaking and her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" (filmed in one continuous take) will doubtless win her an Oscar nomination if not the little gold statue itself. Unlike most movies where there are song sequences, the musical numbers in this version of the iconic stage production were not added later in studio recordings but are, instead live vocal performances that were captured during shooting. Hugh Jackman is a memorable Jean Valjean in a role that allows him to play on many of his acting strengths.

If you've seen and loved the play, you'll enjoy seeing the story played out against a stunning backdrop with sweeping backgrounds that lend a sense of drama and grandeur to the piece.

Is it the music that keeps people flocking to this story? Is it the complexity of the story? The messages of hope, love, or perseverance? That is how the story is sold on the movie's current website. But to me it has always been a story about the difference between two religious polar opposites: legalism and grace. In Javert we see a Pharisaical character who is obsessed with adherence to obeying the letter of the law. Debts must be paid, in full, with as much attending pain as possible. There is no room for forgiveness.

In Jean Valjean we see the antithesis of that. We see grace. Redemption. Love and forgiveness where punishment could be rightly demanded. In Valjean we see the person we would hope to be. In him, as well as several side characters, we see self sacrifice. One forgiven who is then capable of granting forgiveness. One who having been forgiven much, loves much. (Luke 7)  His depth and understanding of grace seems beyond most of us when finally having his nemesis handed over to him to do with as he would he offers Javert escape. In the end Javert having no grasp of anything but a cruel and heartless legalism kills himself to end his agony of not being able to align his world view with the world offered to him by the man he'd hunted over the years.

The book is most likely my favorite of all the things I've ever read. Victor Hugo could not have imagined what a gift he'd given to the world when he penned it.