"Les misérables" (2000) TV mini-series

Director:

Josée Dayan

Writers:

Didier Decoin (written by)
Victor Hugo (novel)

Release Date:

7 January 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

The scene is set during the French Restoration at the beginning of the 19th century. Jean Valjean, a...

Plot Keywords:

Bishop | Mayor | Prison | Police | 19th Century

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Jean Valjean
Christian Clavier	...	Thénardier
John Malkovich	...	Javert
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Cosette
Enrico Lo Verso	...	Marius
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Fantine
Asia Argento	...	Éponine Thénardier
Veronica Ferres	...	Madame Thénardier
Jeanne Moreau	...	Mère Innocente
Giovanna Mezzogiorno	...	Soeur Simplice
Vadim Glowna	...	Fauchelevent
Steffen Wink	...	Enjolras
Léopoldine Serre	...	Cosette enfant
Jérôme Hardelay	...	Gavroche
Michel Duchaussoy	...	Gillenormand

Also Known As:

I miserabili (Italy)
Les Misérables - Gefangene des Schicksals (Germany)
Los miserables (Spain)

Runtime:

90 min (4 episodes)

Country:

France | Italy | Spain | Germany | USA

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:12 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Ledec nad Sázavou, Czech Republic

Company:

DD Productions

Trivia:

The musical version of 'Les Misérables' opened at the Broadway Theater on March 12, 1987 and ran for 6680 performances, making it the third longest running show on Broadway.

Movie Connections:

Version of Les misérables (1958)

A confident and intelligent production.

One of my favourite versions, second only to the 1934 adaptation.

Six hours in length, Depardieu as Valjean, Malkovich as Javert, rich in detail and emotionally engaging - what more can one ask?

As with the 1934 version, this treatment is very full and therefore retains the strength of the original. It contains a number of alterations to the original narrative, but remains faithful to the essence of the characters, though I found Valjean's obsessive behaviour toward Cosette somewhat exaggerated, and too little emphasis laid on his sense of duty, responsibility, and lack of self-esteem, as his motivation.

The direction is crisp, the script intelligent and engaging, and the acting convincing and moving.

Depardieu is an excellent Valjean, articulate and ultimately tragic, while Malkovich is entirely convincing and gives us an unusually "human" Javert. Christian Clavier is splendidly scheming, selfish and low, while Virginie Ledoyen is suitably appealing as Cosette.

This is a confident and intelligent production which is not afraid of its origins.