Les Misérables (1995)

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 & 3 nominations.

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 / 1906
Nicole Croisille	...	Thénardière 1830 / 1906
William Leymergie	...	Toureiffel
Jean Marais	...	Mgr Myriel
Micheline Presle	...	La mère supérieure / Mother Superior
Darry Cowl	...	Le bouquiniste / Bookseller

Storyline

Henri Fortin is poor and iliterate former boxer. Ziman is rich Jewish lawyer from Paris. During WWII they meet when Fortin agrees to drive Ziman's family to Switzerland. Intrigued by Victor Hugo's novel "Les Miserables", Fortin asks the Zimans to read that book to him during the travel. Before the end of movie every main character would see his character in situations similar to those in Hugo's novel.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | boxer | jewish | paris france | nun | 

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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 du vingtième siècle

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$740,048

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$740,048

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

In the scene when Elise Ziman, André Ziman and the other escaping Jews are led to what they believe is the border of Switzerland and the Germans are waiting along the tree line for them. A close up of a German solder wearing a Wehrmacht (army) uniform is shown behind a machine gun. In reality the solders waiting for them would have been Waffen SS. During the war Wehrmacht Units did not have anything to do with rounding up and evacuation of the Jews. This was the job of the SS, SD, Polizei and Gestapo.

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Quotes

Henri Fortin: I've got things to say that people would like to hear.

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Connections

Version of The Giant (1938)

User Reviews

Stayed with me long after it ended

In a word...wow! Entertaining, haunting and enchanting film which intertwines the Victor Hugo novel with twentieth century events. The complexities of the human condition (which French filmakers tend to excel in over their American counterparts) are explored. Human emotions and logic struggle for control in every situation, and this beautiful story delves deep. It's an old struggle, true...yet rarely done so well.

The protagonist (Jean Paul Belmondo was born to play this role)Henri Fortin, struggles from his impoverished childhood to his adulthood where the struggle for criminality and nobleness compete heavily. His story and that of Valjean from the novel compliment and collide. The people and the situations he encounters, all involve themselves in a montage of life and experiences.

LES MISERABLES is a unique, beautiful and complex story about a simple man. It unflinchingly exposes the good and evil that can arise from the human soul, in the worst of circumstances. This film that should not be overlooked on your next trip to the video store, or if you're lucky enough, a large screen viewing at a cinema.