Many French people would tell you that Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is the greatest novel ever written. I may not agree that it is the very best, but it is certainly up there challenging. To take such an esteemed book and adapt the story for one of the darkest periods in French history showed enormous courage by both the director and producer.Their courage was worth it. Hugo's story is interwoven with the fictional life of Henri Fortin (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who both portrays the character of Jean Valjean and has Hugo's original story read to him during the film. Fortin's life mirrors that of Valjean, but set in a later period.The film shows that Hugo's story is timeless. The film remains true to the spirit and sequence of the original story although the setting is quite different. To pull off such an audacious feat speaks volumes for the skill of the film makers. It is a true homage to a truly great story. It is worth taking the time to let this film absorb you.

Jean Paul Belmondo plays a dual role that should have garnered him awards for his performance as both Valjean and as Henri Fortin who takes in a Jewish girl during World War II. Her parents have been taken by the German Nazis. The girl reads to Henri from Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Miserables, since I believe Henri himself can't read. Well, he imagines himself in the role as Valjean. The film is dually impressive relating the past to the present day life of France during the French Revolution and World War II during the German occupation of France. The girl is safe in a French convent. Her parents including her French non-Jewish mother who married a French Jew succumbs to becoming prisoner. Her husband survives a shooting and is taken in by French farmers who have their own agenda. Regardless, the ending is not to be missed. It's both about the joy of living during the worst of times and how fortunate we are.

This has to be one of the best movies i have ever seen. my French class saw it together and i feel like it's one of those movies where by the end, when you finish, you feel like the movie has completed the story to its fullest extent and you are just satisfied. we saw it with french subtitles and for those who don't find subtitles annoying, i feel like this is a movie worth watching. before seeing the movie, people probably should know that this was an adaptation of the original les miserables book by Victor Hugo. the book was set during the french revolution but the director adapted the story to WWII. the story is really powerful, it shows the aspects of human life and how on this earth, there are people who are truly evil and there are people who are just purely good. and how there are those in between but everyone suffers. they are all the miserables. in the beginning, there's a lot of confusion and it starts out weird but once you get interested in it, it's great.i recommend just going to sparknotes.com and reading the plot summary of Les Miserables. it helps you understand the movie better and you get a greater insight into all the characters.

This particular film is amazing! I have read the book and consider it one of the most important works in time. The Broadway play is also amazing with its vocals, scenery and special effects. So how do you make a movie that truly captures the essence of what Victor Hugo's vision? The Liam Neeson movie falls incredibly short, but this film captures the true essence and spirit of Jean Valjean! It creatively tells you Hugo's story while telling you about another character's journey similiar to that of Valjean's! A hard-working, uneducated man offers to help a Jewish family escape the Holocaust. The Jewish family recognizes the spirit of Jean Valjean in this man and offer to tell him about Jean Valjean as they are fleeing out of harm's way. If you are looking for an interesting, unique movie to watch, THIS IS THE ONE!