Les Miserables

Les Miserables is a musical adaptation from one of the greatest novels by Victor Hugo. This 19th century French novel was published in 1862. It was made into musical in 1980 and all the songs and lyrics are originally composed in French. The English version was only made and showed in London West End theatre in 1985. Subsequently 1987 in New York Broadway theatre.

I watched the movie last week and it was literally a crying marathon for me and my mum. I knew it was a very sad movie. Nevertheless was not prepared for how sad it was!

Jean Valjean was imprisoned for 19 years just because he stole a loaf of bread for the starving sister's child. 5 years for stealing and 14 years for numerous attempts of escape! What kind of a world was that? It was so dreadful just the thought of it!

Poor Fantine was forced to leave the job when they found out that she had a illegitimate child with the wrong man she fell in love with.

She sang :   There was a time when men were kind....When their voices were soft...I dreamed that love would never die....I had a dream my life would be....So different from this hell I'm living....

Her child Cosette was placed with an ungrateful couple and she was made to do all the chores. How very cruel was that! Luckily Jean managed to save her from her hell.

Cosette sang :   There is a castle on a cloud, I like to go there in my sleep, There is a lady all in white, Holds me and sings a lullaby, She's nice to see and she's soft to touch, She says "Cosette, I love you very much."

Then there were the young students. They were trying to fight for their rights to have a better life! M

They sang :   Do you hear the people sing, Singing the song of angry men, It is the music of a people Who will not be slaves again, When the beating of your heart, Echoes the beating of the drums, There is a life about to start, When tomorrow comes............

But sadly they were all but one perished under the fires of the army.

Marius  survived because Jean saved him for the sake of Cosette who was in love with. Jean was afraid that when he was gone Cosette would be alone. So touched by this gesture of him.
Jean died because of his age and Cossette and Marius married and live happily ever after.... 

The movie starring Hugh Jackman as Jean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette. Didn't know they can sing except Amanda Seyfried whom I watched singing in Mama Mia! Hugh Jackman played it quite well. Like his facial expression, so depressed!

Cosette and Marius.

Anne Hathaway as Fantine.

Javert and Eponine.

All the melodies are very nicely composed and the lyrics really brought tears to my eyes!

There really were times when the world was like a living hell and living means life long suffering and miseries! It was a long time ago and the world is now peaceful for most of us and that we are the lucky lots! So we have to live a life which is fulfilling and meaningful!

Personally, my favorite song is Look Down by Jean and the slaves and On My Own by Eponine.