Les Misérables (1998)

Director:

Bille August

Writers (WGA):

Victor Hugo (novel)
Rafael Yglesias (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The legend comes to life.

Plot:

Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives...

Plot Keywords:

Revolution | Police | France | Dead Boy | Nun

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Adamson	...	Bertin
Tim Barlow	...	Lafitte
Timothy Bateson	...	Banker
Veronika Bendová	...	Azelma
David Birkin	...	Courfeyrac
Reine Brynolfsson	...	Captain Beauvais
Patsy Byrne	...	Toussaint
Kathleen Byron	...	Mother Superior
Václav Chalupa	...	André
Ian Cregg	...	Feuilly
Ben Crompton	...	Grantier
Claire Danes	...	Cosette
Zdenek David	...	Peasant (as Zdenék David)
Paola Dionisotti	...	Forewoman
Edna Doré	...	Old Woman (as Edna Dore)
Louis Hammond	...	Letter Reader
Gillian Hanna	...	Mme. Thénardier
Janet Henfrey	...	Mme. Gilot
Shane Hervey	...	Gavroche
Zdenek Hess	...	Foreman
Gerard Horan	...	Digne Gendarme
Kelly Hunter	...	Mme. Victurien
Lennie James	...	Enjolras
Toby Jones	...	Doorkeeper
Jon Kenny	...	Thénardier
Pavel Kocí	...	Coachdriver
Sylvie Koblizkova	...	Éponine
Jan Kuzelka	...	Furniture Dealer
Peter Mackriel	...	Doctor
Margery Mason	...	Nursing Nun
Hans Matheson	...	Marius
Shannon McCormick	...	Redheaded Gendarme
John McGlynn	...	Carnot
Philip McGough	...	Judge
David McKay	...	Informer
Liam Neeson	...	Valjean
Mimi Newman	...	Cosette - aged 8
Alex Norton	...	General
Ralph Nossek	...	Clerk
Frank O'Sullivan	...	Brevet
Zoja Oubramová	...	Old Woman
Jirí Patocka	...	Old Man
Petr Pénkava	...	Begger Child
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Bamatabois
Milan Riehs	...	Priest
Geoffrey Rush	...	Javert
James Saxon	...	Chabouillet
Petr Strnad	...	Young Homeless Boy
John Surman	...	Stonemason
Miroslav Táborský	...	Gendarme (as Miroslav Taborsky)
Terry Taplin	...	Prosecutor
Uma Thurman	...	Fantine
Richard Toth	...	Gendarme
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Landlord (as Edward Tudor Pole)
Peter Vaughan	...	Bishop
Zdenek Vencl	...	Messenger (as Zdenék Vencl)
Tony Vogel	...	Lombard
Pavel Vokoun	...	Sergeant
Jan Unger	...	Officer
Joshua Wren	...	Old Homeless Boy
Libor Zidek	...	Wig Maker (as Libor Zídek)

Directed by
Bille August

Writing credits (WGA)
Victor Hugo		(novel)
Rafael Yglesias		(screenplay)

Produced by
James Gorman	....	producer
Caroline Hewitt	....	co-producer
Sarah Radclyffe	....	producer
Michel Siksik	....	line producer: Paris

Original Music by
Basil Poledouris

Cinematography by
Jörgen Persson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Janus Billeskov Jansen		(as Janus Billeskov-Jansen)

Casting by
Leo Davis		(as Leonora Davis)

Production Design by
Anna Asp

Art Direction by
Peter Grant

Costume Design by
Gabriella Pescucci

Makeup Department
Jan Archibald	....	hair designer
Jan Archibald	....	hairdresser: Mr. Neeson
Miri Ben-Schlomo	....	makeup artist
Anne-Marie Brocca	....	makeup artist: Paris
Anita Burger	....	hairdresser
Václav Frank	....	makeup artist
Václav Frank	....	makeup artist: second unit
Betty Glasow	....	hairdresser: second unit
Christian Gruau	....	hairdresser: Paris
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist: Ms. Thurman
Belinda Parish	....	makeup artist
Zdena Prohliková	....	makeup artist (as Zdena Prchlíková)
Morag Ross	....	makeup artist: Mr. Neeson
Morag Ross	....	makeup designer
Astrid Schikorra	....	hairdresser
Milan Vlcek	....	makeup artist
Eva Vytlelová	....	makeup artist (as Eva Vyplelová)
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hairdresser: Ms. Thurman
Cynthia Patton	....	hair stylist: second unit (uncredited)

Production Management
Jean-Marc Abbou	....	production manager: Paris (as Jean Marc Abbou)
Jean-François Casamayou	....	executive in charge of production: Paris, Frog Films (as Jean Francois Casamayou)
Ales Komárek	....	production manager
François Mallard	....	production manager: Paris (as Francois Mallard)
Petr Moravec	....	executive in charge of production: ETIC
Pavel Picek	....	unit manager: second unit
Vladimir Seiml	....	unit manager (as Valdimír Seiml)
Neris Thomas	....	post-production supervisor
Chantal Feghali	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)
Donald Tetreault	....	unit manager: second unit (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Batt	....	first assistant director: second unit
William Booker	....	second assistant director
Ivan Cook	....	trainee assistant director
Mathieu Howlett	....	assistant director: Paris
Nanna Mailand-Hansen	....	second second assistant director
Guy Mazarguil	....	assistant director: Paris
Tomás Obermajer	....	assistant director: second unit (as Tomás Obermaier)
Jirí Ostry	....	first assistant director: Czech Republic (as Jirí Ostrý)
Katie Petrosky	....	trainee assistant director
Stuart Renfrew	....	second assistant director: second unit
Martin Sebik	....	second second assistant director (as Martin Sebík)
Srdjan Simeonovich	....	assistant director: second unit (as Serdjan Semjonovic)
Guy Travers	....	first assistant director
Arthur Wooster	....	second unit director
Hélène Boulay	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Simon Bang	....	storyboard artist
Romana Bartakovicová	....	assistant to drapist
Ivar Baungaard	....	set dresser
John Bohan	....	construction coordinator
Iva Bártová	....	assistant to drapist
Ales Cepelka	....	construction manager
Bruno Coucoureux	....	carpenter: Paris
Gary Crosby	....	master painter
Jiri Dusek	....	set dresser (as Jirí Dusek)
Julie Goodall	....	art department assistant
Charles Green	....	master plasterer
René Gráf	....	stand-by construction
Tomas Hais	....	set dresser (as Tomás Hais)
Pavel Hemmy	....	storeman
Cecilia Hersby	....	property master (as Cecilia Sille Hersby)
Teddy Holm	....	master painter
Terry James	....	supervising plasterer
Vladimir Jezek	....	set dresser (as Vladimír Jezek)
Robert Le Corre	....	set dresser
Love Malmsten	....	draughtsman
Thomas Martin	....	assistant construction coordinator
Dan Michl	....	set dresser
Xavier Miclet	....	carpenter: Paris
Stefan Mily	....	propman (as Stefan Milý)
Gunilla Norlund	....	draper designer
Adam O'Neill	....	draughtsman
Petr Richter	....	propman
Petr Richter	....	props: second unit
Annie Senéchal	....	prop assistant: Paris (as Annie Senechal)
Leif Thingtved	....	assistant set dresser
Vördur Thorisson	....	master painter
Michael Turner	....	stand-by construction
Andrej Vavrena	....	stand-by construction (as Andy Vavrena)
Jiri Zucek	....	property master (as Jirí Zucek)
Radan Kapinos	....	props (uncredited)
Martin Kubricht	....	stand-by construction (uncredited)
Marketa Puzmanova	....	art department interpreter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ross Adams	....	additional sound editor: post production
Jonathan Bates	....	supervising sound editor
Tomas Cervenka	....	cable man (as Tomás Cervenka)
Paul Conway	....	additional sound editor: post production
Paul Cridlin	....	boom operator
Michael Crouch	....	foley editor: post production
Doug Hemphill	....	additional re-recordist (as D.M. Hemphill)
David John	....	production sound mixer
Nick Lowe	....	dialogue editor
Paul Massey	....	additional sound re-recordist
Mickey McKnight	....	sound assistant: post production
Robin O'Donoghue	....	re-recording mixer
Alastair Sirkett	....	assistant sound editor: post production
Len Tremble	....	foley assistant: post production
Matthew Tucker	....	sound assistant: post production
Mark Battenberg	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Richard Betanzos	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)
Richard Betanzos	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Scott Donald	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Philippe Espantoso	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)
Geoff Foster	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)
Steven Gurman	....	dialogue re-recording engineer (uncredited)
Steven Gurman	....	supervising dialogue editor (uncredited)
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo (uncredited)
Eric Med Lagacé	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Sid Lieberman	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Arun Majumdar	....	sound consultant (uncredited)
Phil Reznick	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Cory Rizos	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Glenn Tussman	....	sound editor (uncredited)
André Vincelli	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vojtèch Chvátil	....	special effects technician
Terry Glass	....	special effects coordinator
Tomás Jelínek	....	special effects technician
Jaroslav Kolman	....	special effects senior technician
Martin Kulhánek	....	special effects floor supervisor
Frantisek Mesícek	....	special effects technician (as Frantisek Mésícek)
Martin Oberlander	....	special effects technician
Pavel Pavlousek	....	special effects technician
Pavel Sagner	....	special effects technician (as Pavel Ságner)
Milos Stehlík	....	special effects technician
Jaroslav Stolba	....	special effects supervisor
Dana H. Suddath	....	special effects assistant coordinator
Roman Tudzaroff Jr.	....	special effects technician
Roman Tudzaroff	....	special effects senior technician
Jirí Vater	....	special effects senior technician
Vera Vlková	....	special effects technician (as Véra Vlková)
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Bain	....	digital effects compositor: Digital Film
Alex Hope	....	facilities producer: Digital Film
Jesper Kjölsrud	....	cg designer: Digital Film (as Jesper Kjoisrud)
Charlie Noble	....	digital effects compositor: Digital Film
Rupert Porter	....	line producer: Digital Film
Paul Riddle	....	digital effects compositor: Digital Film
Mark Stannard	....	digital effects compositor: Digital Film
Simon Terry	....	digital effects compositor: Digital Film
David Kuklish	....	visual effects cinematographer: title sequence (uncredited)

Stunts
Jean-Louis Airola	....	stunt double: Paris (as Jean Louis Airola)
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunt double
Steve Dent	....	stunt double
Petr Drozda	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Ladislav Lahoda	....	stunt coordinator: Czech Republic
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator
Petra Novotná	....	stunt woman
Leo Stransky	....	stunts (as Leos Stránský)
Pavel Vokoun	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Sylwester Zawadzki	....	stunt double (as Sylvester Zavadski)
Pavel Bousek	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pavel Cajzl	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jiri Horky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dusan Hyska	....	stunts (uncredited)
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jaroslav Peterka	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jiri Stanek	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Patrik Stanek	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Arnautov	....	chief electrician
Jan Boruvka	....	best boy
David Budd	....	camera operator: second unit
Václav Cermak	....	pre-rigger (as Václav Cermák)
Karel Charvat	....	grip: second unit (as Karel Charvát)
Trevor Coop	....	camera operator
Jean-Pierre Cousin	....	grip: Paris (as Jean Pierre Cousin)
John Deaton	....	focus puller
Pavel Dostal	....	grip: second unit (as Pavel Dostál)
Dusan Durco	....	generator operator
Mike Evans	....	focus puller: second unit
Shaun Evans	....	clapper loader: second unit
Laure Gemy	....	assistant camera: Paris
Rodolphe Gonckel	....	electrician: Paris
Ivo Gresak	....	assistant grip (as Ivo Gresák)
Bernie Grill	....	pre-lighting gaffer (as Bernhard Grill)
Peter Hawkins	....	stand-by rigger
Igor Jelen	....	electrician
Borivoj Klecka	....	electrician (as Borek Klecka)
Rolf Konow	....	still photographer
Michel LeFrançois	....	gaffer: Paris (as Michel Lefrancois)
Ted Lindahl	....	gaffer
Bengt Lundgren	....	best boy
Antonin Marik	....	camera assistant (as Antonín Marík)
Peter Myslowski	....	key grip
Jan Pallesen	....	clapper loader
John Payne	....	key grip: second unit
Lennart Pettersson	....	focus puller
Pavel Prokop	....	clapper loader: second unit
Guy Savidan	....	generator operator: Paris
Stefan Stefanov	....	assistant grip
Mike Tiverios	....	Steadicam operator
Felix Touret	....	key grip: Paris
David Ungaro	....	assistant camera: Paris
Michel Van Oosterom	....	grip: Paris
Richard Vidal	....	electrician: Paris
Jan Weincke	....	additional photography
Werner Wiese	....	pre-lighting best boy (as Werner Weise)
Alan Williams	....	pre-lighting rigger
Tim Wooster	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Jacques Girard	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Dominique Lapointe	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Conrad Roy	....	grip: second unit (uncredited)
Gaétan St-Onge	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting: post production
Pippa Hall	....	casting assistant
Petr Hartl	....	casting director: Czech Republic
Melissa Holm	....	casting assistant
Christelle Lamarre	....	extras casting: Paris

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Milena Adamová	....	seamstress
Petra Barochová	....	seamstress
Alfredo Bocci	....	wardrobe master
Flora Brancatella	....	assistant costume designer
Anne Brault	....	assistant costume designer
Sophie Brault	....	wardrobe assistant: Paris
Zuzana Bursíková	....	seamstress
Giovanni Casalnuovo	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Gianni Casalnuovo)
Azmin Jaffer	....	dresser
Renata Janousková	....	wardrobe assistant (as Renáta Janousková)
Adriana Mattiozzi	....	wardrobe mistress
Katerina Mirová	....	wardrobe assistant (as Katerina Mírová)
Katerina Mirová	....	wardrobe: second unit (as Katerina Mírová)
Vera Mirová	....	assistant wardrobe mistress (as Véra Mírová)
Carlo Poggioli	....	associate costume designer
Salvatore Salzano	....	wardrobe assistant
Helena Vitoulová	....	seamstress
Miroslav Fantys	....	assistant to wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Claudette Lilly	....	costume dyer (uncredited)
Massimo Cantini Parrini	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alexei Chichekotov	....	editing assistant: post production
Peter Englesson	....	post-production consultant
Paul Ensby	....	color timer
Annie Gould	....	post-production assistant
Mark Harris	....	first assistant editor: post production
Victoria Jones	....	editing assistant: post production
Paul Knight	....	avid assistant: post-production
Becky Maxwell	....	post-production assistant (as Becky Johnson)
Belinda Pope	....	post-production assistant
Rikke Selin	....	first assistant editor: post production
Aminta Townshend	....	post-production assistant
Valdís Óskarsdóttir	....	co-editor: post production
Claudette Duff	....	assistant editor: avid (uncredited)
Mike Fraser	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Michel Proulx	....	color timer (uncredited)
Trudy Ship	....	supervising editor (uncredited)
Ron Spang	....	assistant editor: avid (uncredited)
Bill Stone	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator
Becky Bentham	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Ltd.
Tim Boyle	....	music mixer
Tim Boyle	....	music recordist
Budd Carr	....	executive music consultant
Eric Colvin	....	score mock-up artist
Geoff Foster	....	assistant engineer
Vic Fraser	....	music copyist
Isobel Griffiths	....	musicians contractor
Basil Poledouris	....	conductor
Maggie Rodford	....	music coordinator
Curtis Roush	....	supervising music editor
Tim Boyle	....	music engineer (uncredited)
Eric Colvin	....	conductor (uncredited)
Peter Measroch	....	music editor (uncredited)
Robert Randles	....	musical advisor (uncredited)
Michael Reese	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Alan Reeves	....	music re-recordist (uncredited)
Alan Reeves	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bruno Bernard	....	transportation coordinator: Paris
Tomás Charvát	....	driver
Zdenek Flídr	....	transportation captain (as Zdenék Flídr)
Jirí Hozátko	....	driver
Jana Hrbková	....	assistant transportation captain
Pavel Jumar	....	driver
Jirí Nosek	....	driver

Other crew
Annemarie Aaes	....	script supervisor
Monique Albouze	....	production coordinator: Paris
Amy Alson	....	tutor: Ms. Danes, On Location Education Inc.
Catherine Barrès	....	production coordinator: Paris (as Catherine Barres)
Karel Benák	....	catering: second unit
Michal Berka	....	production assistant
Dana Cimmermanová	....	stand-in
Maria Collins	....	assistant production coordinator
Geneviève Thomas Colvin	....	assistant: Mr. Carr (as Genevieve Thomas Colvin)
Esther Douglas	....	production associate
Gisèle Dounias	....	set nurse: Paris
Francesca Dowd	....	assistant production coordinator
Romuald Drault	....	accountant: Paris
Penny Dyer	....	dialogue coach
John Ensby	....	laboratory liaison
Gianni Fiumi	....	military department master
Wendy Fletcher	....	tutor
Bill Godfrey	....	financial controller: SRP (as William Godfrey)
Ben Hampshire	....	assistant: Mr. Neeson
Pavla Jakubcová	....	production accountant: Czech Republic
Bobbie Johnson	....	financial controller
Jiri Krejcir	....	location manager (as Jirí Krejcír)
Nicole Kytyrova	....	production assistant (as Nicole Kytýrová)
Tina McConnell	....	assistant accountant
Bertrand Moulier	....	script translator
Zoe Mylchreest	....	unit publicist (as Zoë Mylchreest)
Frédéric North	....	pilot: Wescam (as Fred North)
Hélène Odier	....	production coordinator: Paris (as Helene Odier)
Julie Paquet-Kucaj	....	production secretary
Chip Persons	....	stand-in
Antonín Prazský	....	assistant location manager
June Randall	....	script supervisor: second unit
Mark Reynolds	....	catering supervisor
Laurent Rousseau	....	production coordinator: Paris
Mia Simeckova	....	set nurse (as Mia Simecková)
Ondrej Slama	....	assistant location manager
Steve Spencer	....	additional film assistant: post production
Michaela Strnadova	....	on-set coordinator (as Michaela Strnadová)
Emma Tillinger Koskoff	....	assistant: Ms. Thurman (as Emma Tillinger)
Karin Trolle	....	production associate
Vera Trousilová	....	cashier (as Véra Trousilová)
Sarah Trowse	....	first assistant accountant: Prague
Petra Tvarúzková	....	stand-in
Breda Walsh	....	production coordinator
Jami Wrenn	....	assistant: Mr. Rush (as Jami Lee Wrenn)
Stéphane Dalpé	....	production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Tina Ellis	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Bennett Fidlow	....	additional legal services (uncredited)
Richard Gironi	....	chief of crowd control (uncredited)
Ryan R. Johnson	....	assistant to head of production (uncredited)
Chantal Lussier	....	technical supervisor (uncredited)
Charles Obrul	....	laboratory coordinator (uncredited)
Tomas Pavlacky	....	interpreter (uncredited)
Dita Valentinova	....	interpreter (uncredited)
Debbie Wolofsky	....	studio manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Claude Albouze	....	special thanks
Bernard Bled	....	special thanks (as Mr. Bernard Bled)
Brigitte Brauner	....	special thanks (as Madame Brigitte Brauner)
Rick McCallum	....	special thanks
Kathy Sykes	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Mandalay Entertainment
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• Falcon (Czech Republic)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment
• TriPictures (Spain)
• VCL Communications (Germany) (video)

Special Effects

• Digital Film (visual effects)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment supplied by
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Air-Edel Associates  music coordination
• Allyoucanstunt  stunts
• Allyoucanstunt  stunts
• Barrandov Studios  studio facilities provided by
• Cine Image Film Opticals  titles
• Det Danske Filmstudie  production facilities
• ETIC Films  production services: Czech Republic
• Goldcrest Post Production London  production facilities
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Hothouse Music  music supervision by
• International Film Guarantors  completion bond company
• Lichttechnik Vertriebs  lighting equipment supplied by
• Location Facilities  motor homes and trailers
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Malde & Co.  auditing
• On Location Education  tutoring
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• SJ Berwin  legal services
• Salon  editing equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Shaun Webb Design  credits design
• Shepperton Sound  sound re-recording
• Sony Pictures Studios  additional re-recording at
• The City of Prague  special thanks
• Vantage Film  HAWK anamorphic lenses provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, and for some sexual content

Runtime:

134 min | Argentina:132 min

Country:

UK | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | UK:12 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Mandalay Entertainment

Trivia:

Bille August rejected the original score composed by Gabriel Yared'. Yared said he could see it coming because there was 'no harmony' between the two of them. Yarud was replaced by Basil Poledouris, who had a limited time to compose a full score. When the film was released, many movie posters listed Yared as composer, not Poledouris.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Inspector Javert is at the home of Cosette and Jean ValJean, he writes a letter and asks Cosette for an envelope which she produces for him. The type of pre folded, flap envelope that Cosette gives him would not have been invented or for commercial use in 1832, the time period of Les Miserables. Rather, correspondence would have been folded inside another sheet of paper and sealed with a wax seal and brass sealing ring or tied with a string or ribbon.

Quotes:

Fantine:[to Valjean] We're a fine pair.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (#3.7)" (2010)

An echo of greatness!

Victor Hugo's enormous output is unique in French literature... He was described as 'The most powerful mind of the romantic movement' and his novel, published in 1862, continued to be widely read...

The plot - that of a detective - is as well the epic of the people of Paris... Its author claimed it as a 'religious' work, and indeed by means of its characters, sometimes a little larger than life, yet always vital and engaging, and by its re-creation of the swarming Parisian underworld, the main theme of man's ceaseless combat with evil clearly emerges while the whole gives a faithful picture of the declines and flow of life...

Hugo relives his youth in this vast novel, the culmination of 14 years work... He and Valjean share their most outstanding characteristic: their charitable heart...

The story contains glimpses of Hugo's disgust towards 'the treatment of the lower class French citizens by the government: Valjean, an ex-convict recently released from prison, but he is not given the opportunity to make a good living for himself; Fantine forced into prostitution due to the lack of money to pay her illegitimate child...

And towards the 'general injustice of the law enforcement system: Valjean sentenced to prison for stealing a loaf of bread; Fantine arrested for hitting a man of a higher class...

The symbol of France's greed that Hugo despises is Thenardier - the man that Fantine entrusts Cosette to - who betrays the trust by essentially making Cosette his personal slave...

The strongest emotions of "Les Misérables are love and hate...

Javert and Valjean are both extremes, with a conscience incredibly strict...

Liam Neeson is cast as the gentle Valjean who takes the twist of fate parlaying it into personal success and moral rehabilitation... He changes his ways to become years later the much-loved mayor of Vigau, and as a caring businessman he struggles to forget the past and manages to redeem his soul becoming benevolent, giving manual and financial help to the weak, sick and poor...

After nine years, Valjean was horrified to discover that Javert - a former guard of the Quarries of Toulon, where he served almost 20 years - has arrived to be the head of Vigau's police force...

Valjean's desire to protect the employees from bad influences leads him to fire (indirectly) one of his workers Fantine - turned prostitute... He assumes responsibility for raising her daughter Cosette... He becomes a father figure and soon forces the choice of sacrificing his own freedom for her happiness...

Geoffrey Rush plays the icy chief inspector Javert, the man who tries "to live his life without breaking a single rule." When he is given the job of spying in the barricades and Valjean gives him his freedom instead of shooting him, things begin to fall apart for him...

The action of mercy of Jean Valjean causes him to doubt the solid base of his existence... He is in emotional agony unable to betray his convictions... He sees too late the truth...

Valjean's legendary physical strength are enough to stir his suspicion that the town mayor is a fraud... He is less villain than a man driven by his own hard concept of justice begging permission of his superiors in Paris to investigate the mayor, the man he believes is a convict...

When he thinks he has made a mistake in identifying Monsieur Le Maire as the 'convict' Jean Valjean, he insists on informing him that he has denounced him unjustly and that therefore he must be dismissed: "You must punish me", he says, "or my life will have been meaningless." (A key line in the film).

Uma Thurman approaches the self-indulgent character of Fantine with admirable restraint, giving a certain level of charm and charisma to the film... She gives her sick mother role a good amount of realism demonstrating her character's frustration and pain exquisitely...

Fantine's misery overwhelms her as she sells her body to support her child... Being in a wild state, enraged at how she is a helpless victim of misery, she is arrested after being humiliated by several would-be customers, but Valjean intercedes on her behalf overriding Javert's authority...

When Valjean helps her, she begins to rediscover hope... Her joy at the thought of having Cosette with her is great... But the shock of Valjean's arrest and the discover that Cosette is not there, are too much for the poor creature...

Claire Danes plays the teenage Cosette who realizes one day that she has become quite beautiful... She disobeys her father's rules by secretly sneaking out and seeing Marius - a charismatic young Parisian revolutionary - with whom she fell in love...

Cosette spends her childhood as a servant girl at the Thenardier's inn, horribly mistreated and constantly terrified... She grew up in a convent, innocent, pure and a bit naïve...

Peter Vaughan is excellent as the compassionate bishop whose act of generosity turns an embittered Valjean around...

Bille August tries to capture the essence of Hugo's morality staging its political turmoil strongly enough to give it contemporary resonance, keeping the eternal three elements: the bishop handing over the candlesticks; Fantine's collapse; Marius crying out: "To the barricades!"

History doesn't change, as Voltaire once remarked... But what we need from it, does... Valjean's story is not unique, it's universal... In other world, it's contemporary... There are certainly enough "Les Misérables" to go all around the world...