RE: And that is very different than to love a person is to see the face of God...That belief is from the eastern faiths.
How is that from Eastern faiths? Jesus Himself said what you have done to the least of your brethren YOU HAVE DONE TO HIM.
It might not be seeing God’s face, but it sure is close to seeing the face of His Son.
AS for Jean Valjean using his works to justify his previous life, I don’t see that in this movie.
He in fact told the truth to the courts rather than allow an innocent man to be jailed in his place when they mistakenly thought they captured Prisoner 24601 (Him).
He said this when he decided to reveal himself (lyrics to the song ): “My soul belongs to God, I know I made that promise long ago He gave me hope when hope was gone He gave me strength to journey on Who am I? Who am I? I am Jean Valjean!”
I am not a fan of Hollywood, but I can see a story of goodness, kindness and love when one is told.
Because it is a fundamentally DIFFERENT idea....love another is not anything like doing for those who have less are outcast are the lest....to feed the hungry, help the poor is not the same as loving another. Those acts may come from love of God and a sense of duty but loving another individual is not in and of itself selfless. It is indeed what is taught in Buddhism ...the idea that you should love and honor the ‘god’ that exists within all of us in everything.
I would strongly recommend that you actually read Victor Hugo’s work rather than relying on what b’way and hollyweird have put up there.