“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” Les Miserables is a story during the time of the French Revolution wherein it portrays the oppression of the French laws to the ex-offenders that was never allowed to redeem themselves and this kindles the flames of the social revolution. This film review will focus on a man who symbolizes repentance and how his path crosses other characters that gave meaning to his life. It talks about Jean Valjean’s struggle to escape the past and reaffirm his humanity in a society wherein poverty and ignorance prevails. This review will also include how women are treated in the society and their state when it comes to equality of sexes.

Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a proud and decent man imprisoned for stealing bread to save his sister’s daughter from starving. Convict Jean Valjean is paroled but starving because no one will hire or help a known criminal, then one night a bishop at a rural church showed him profound kindness gave him food and shelter. The bishop imbued him with kindness and goodness that shapes the rest of his life wherein he decided to break his parole and build a new identity. He became a mayor and a factory owner where his path crosses with Fantine a factory worker whose grown up daughter Cosette is fatefully in love with Marius a revolutionary leader. Jean Valjean lived his life being guilty of theft and this came a part of his life when Javert chases him for him being an ex-convict. He became a father and mother to Cosette until she is grown-up because he promised to Fantine that she will take care of her daughter and pay all their debts. Because of Cosette, Jean Valjean was able to join the revolution to save Marius the man who is in love with his daughter Cosette.

One of the causes of Jean Valjean’s renewal is the Bishop of the rural church who showed him kindness even if he stole the silverwares of the church. In that scene the bishop symbolizes God who is naturally welcoming and forgiving, the bishop welcomed Jean Valjean with open arms and forgive him like God, He also welcome and embraces sinners who come back to him and repent for what they’ve done. As time passed by, Jean Valjean’s life is continually changing and he had been wealthy and become a mayor. He endowed his helping hands to people who need them especially in the character of Fantine wherein she is a factory worker that was fired for having a daughter out of wedlock. I think Jean Valjean did this because before he is also experiencing the sufferings of Fantine and also because he is empowered and helped by God also to be an instrument of hope and kindness to others. There are three remarkable scenes of him that marked in my heart, first is the act when he suffered just because he stole bread for his sister’s daughter who is starving. We have seen how the perception of Javert and how he acts to criminals, he even stated that once a criminal will always be a criminal. Second, is when he adopted Cosette and vowed to loved her and raise her well. This scenario is also the same with the experience of her sister and his niece who is starving that causes his conviction, but in here Cosette is starving for her mother’s presence and also the dying Fantine also wants her daughter by her side. Lastly is when he dared not to take the shot to kill Javert who has been one of his enemies.

The film showed us the flow of the story of the French Revolution in a very organized manner. The characters gave emphasis on the reality of how life goes on with different kinds of persons. They portrayed their role excellently and the actors showed us the emotion of how it feels like to be in that situation. Every line, every note that they sang is performed with conviction. The scene wherein the Christ like charity of the bishop to Jean Valjean makes us feel the real presence of God. The film’s cinematography is very good that gives the viewers a good flow on how the scene changes from one act to another. The actors express their emotions well to the point that the viewers are carried away by their feelings also.