originally a recruiting tool for the commies, or something
A beautiful, beautiful story. The love of Christ shines in the darkest of times.
Very good article. Thanks for posting. Haven’t seen this one yet but have seen the stage musical and the 1935 and 1998 nonmusical film versions.
While I tend to be somewhat averse to people taking classics from long ago and trying to draw current parallels that are often strained, I find this article to be very good.
I’ve seen the stage version.
Victor Hugo did, in Jean ValJean, create a man who in the worst of times retained a focus on God and not on the turmoil around him.
The revolutionaries come off as young, stupid and deadly.
It probably is a film for our times. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
The author must have showed up late to the movie. At the beginning of the movie, Jean Valjean, the guy this author is talking about, got his fresh start in the world by stealing the Bishop's silverware. In the novel, Valjean went on to steal money from a small boy.
While I tend to be somewhat averse to people taking classics from long ago and trying to draw current parallels that are often strained, I find this article to be very good.
I’ve seen the stage version.
Victor Hugo did, in Jean ValJean, create a man who in the worst of times retained a focus on God and not on the turmoil around him.
The revolutionaries come off as young, stupid and deadly.
It probably is a film for our times. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Homelessness in the USA —the LEAST popular story for the US media for the last and next four years....
The authors attempt to politicize the recent movie “Les Miserable,” is a bit out of focus. The movie actually actually eschews a political message for a story of ultimate human destiny.
The message actually is a highly Christian one because it starts with a mans conversion, and than commitment to live righteously in the face of persecution from the oppressive figures who do not see the world through the lens of God’s plan of salvation.
Javart for example has a skewed notion of justice because he cannot see human beings as God’s children.
The movie blends this dichotomy between justice and mercy in some amazing scenes. The kindness of the Cleric who is almost stupidly zealous with giving to Valjean for example. Such charity seems insane on one level, but it also reveals Valjean what God’s love for him is actually like. He literally gets a second chance in life to live well and in his grace and to give in charity to others that same second chance he had received from God.
Ultimately, I’d reject the notion that the barricade can be easily seen as a purely political symbol, because it also represents the conviction of individuals who think that all human beings have an inherent dignity that must be respected. I’d note that conditions that obtained in post Napoleon France are not easily transposed to our current society.
I’d highly recommend watching this movie. It’s one of the most edifying movies I’ve seen come from Hollywood in years.
I absolutely hated this movie. Looooooooooooong and depressing.
