Les Misérables (1995)
"Les misérables" (original title)

A variation on Victor Hugo's classic novel by means of the story of a man whose life is affected by and somewhat duplicated by the Hugo story of the beleaguered Jean Valjean.

Director:

Claude Lelouch

Writers:

Victor Hugo (novel), Claude Lelouch

Stars:

Jean-Paul Belmondo, Michel Boujenah, Alessandra Martines

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Henri Fortin / Jean Valjean
Michel Boujenah	...	André Ziman
Alessandra Martines	...	Elise Ziman
Salomé Lelouch	...	La fille Ziman (as Salome)
Annie Girardot	...	Thénardière 1942
Philippe Léotard	...	Thénardier 1942
Clémentine Célarié	...	Catherine / Fantine
Philippe Khorsand	...	Le policier / Javert
Ticky Holgado	...	Le gentil voyou / Kind Hoodlum
Rufus	...	Thénardier 1830 / 1990
Nicole Croisille	...	Thénardière 1830 / 1990
William Leymergie	...	Toureiffel
Jean Marais	...	Mgr Myriel
Micheline Presle	...	La mère supérieure / Mother Superior
Darry Cowl	...	Le bouquiniste / Bookseller

Storyline

A variation on Victor Hugo's classic novel by means of the story of a man whose life is affected by and somewhat duplicated by the Hugo story of the beleaguered Jean Valjean.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | jewish | boxer | dead children | crime against humanity | 

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Taglines:

In a time of chaos, in a world of change, he was moved by a book he could not read to become a hero he never imagined.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, brief language and sexuality

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French German English

Release Date:

3 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les Misérables

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Gross:

$1,035,890 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Les Films 13, TF1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

175 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Several times throughout the film, SS officers are seen wearing the famous 1930's era black SS uniforms. This is very common mistake in many WW2 films. The Black SS uniforms were discontinued at the start of the war in 1939 and replaced by the green/grey uniform. Only Waffen SS tank crews wore black uniforms in combat. This was not, however, the all-black uniform worn by the pre-war SS, but rather a short, black waist-cut coat similar in style to that worn by tank crews in the Wehrmacht.

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Connections

Version of Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010)

User Reviews

A very special experience.

This is a truly beautiful film, remarkable for it's simple elegance in unraveling the story of it's principal characters which belies the many complex layers that lie underneath, as Hugo's original characters make their increasing presence felt as the story progresses. It would be highly advantageous to have a good grasp of the characters and plot/line of Hugo's "Les Miserables" in advance of watching the film in order to fully appreciate the universality and agelessness of the human situations which are re-encountered in this particular World War II setting. Both Hugo's novel and the film fully empathize with our universal human experience, and what are still the central concerns of our lives: pleasure & pain, the love and hate present in our relationships, and at the most fundamental level, simple survival. It can leave the viewer personally identifying one moment with Jean-Valjean, and yet in the next with Fantine or Cosette, and inevitably (disturbingly), with Javert. This is an exquisite exploration and contrast of our human capacities both to bring about almost unlimited destruction, and to build life and inextinguishable hope. Very special.