This past Christmas Day was especially
exciting for the Friday family—and not just because of the festivities
associated with the holiday—but because of the cinematic opening of one of our
favorite musicals, Les Misérables. All of us
couldn’t wait until Christmas night where we could step into the world of nineteenth
century Paris where Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert, and a host of other downtrodden
Frenchman sang their way through the drama of poverty, tragedy, anarchy, and
rebellion. My husband and I experienced the play ages ago in Chicago and London
and then this summer in Atlanta with the entire family. It is still one of the
most moving and exhilarating productions I have seen on stage. And with some of
our favorite actors starring in the key movie roles—Russell Crowe, Hugh
Jackman, and Anne Hathaway—it was sure to be a night to remember.
While the movie was wonderful and
entertaining, there were some elements of the film that the viewer has to get
past. First of all, it is long, running over two and a half hours, the drama is
heavy and intense with very little comedic breaks, much of the singing is
filmed in tight close-ups, and then there is Hugh Jackman looking like an old
man and Russell Crowe and his less-than-stellar singing ability. While Crowe isn’t
horrible, his voice seemed weak compared to the other talent. In fact, I would
have to admit that all of the singing was a bit disappointing, with the
exception of Eddie Redmayne, who plays Marius. But don’t let that stop you from
getting to the theater if you haven’t seen the movie yet. Unlike a Broadway
show where the songs and music sweep you into another world, the movie operates
on a different level. It wasn’t the music, but the story and character
development that transported me back to early 1800s France. Obviously the
critics agree, based on its Golden Globe win and eight Academy Award
nominations.
As a Christian, I was especially touched
by Hugh Jackman’s role as Jean Valjean, a good man who finds himself on the
wrong side of the law for having stolen a loaf of bread to feed a starving
child. That sends him to a grueling prison where years of hard, bitter labor
cause him to butt heads with the chain-gang guard, Javert, played by Crowe.
Strength and fortitude help Valjean serve his time until he is released on parole,
but despite a fresh start, the stigma of being an ex-convict haunts him. Finally,
a chance encounter with a loving priest tempts him to steal again. But this
time, grace and mercy are extended. The priest vouches for Valjean, claiming
that the stolen goods were actually gifts and not contraband.
This turn of events surprises and confuses Valjean, sending him on a spiritual journey to discover who he truly is. “Who am I? Who is Jean Valjean?” he sings before a cross hanging on the chapel wall. Is he a number, known as Prisoner 24601, a sinful man long forgotten by a holy God? Or is he something much more? With the stolen goods in hand, Valjean flees his parole and reinvents himself, embarking on a quest to discover the answer to this question. But at every turn, he is hounded by Javert, who reminds him that he is just a number, a parole violator, thief, and criminal, who deserves hard labor, imprisonment, and even death.
Throughout the movie, the themes of love,
mercy, forgiveness, and grace are beautifully contrasted with the themes of
law, judgment, guilt, and condemnation. At the moment the priest shows mercy and grace
to Valjean, his heart is flooded with the love of God. He starts a new life
where this same mercy and grace rule his decisions—essentially, he travels down
a Christ-like path where the letter of the law is violated in an effort to keep
the spirit of truth behind it. The viewer sees this love extended to Fantine, a
poor, doomed factory worker-turned prostitute (played by Hathaway), as well as
Fantine’s little girl, Cosette, who he takes as his own child after Fantine’s
death. Years later, as a group of young anarchists stage a revolt, Valjean extends
grace once more by helping Javert escape capture and by rescuing Cosette’s
love, Marius, from certain death.
Valjean’s problem is that his past life
hovers over him like a dark cloud in the person of Javert, the vigilant police
officer, threatening to bring the escaped Prisoner 24601 to justice. Javert is
driven by the perfection of keeping the letter of the law, relentlessly
confronting the proponent of grace, almost like a Pharisee in a Gospel account
seeking to destroy Jesus the Messiah. I found it interesting that Javert always
donned a perfectly groomed uniform and carefully walked the edge of high
buildings and bridges, looking down at the world below. One false slip would
sent him tumbling down into destruction, but his self-righteous, perfect
law-keeping give him a false sense of security.
At the close of the movie, when Javert has
his final showdown with Valjean, he realizes he has met his match. His laws
and rules are powerless against the love, forgiveness, and sacrifice displayed
by a man like Valjean who swims through the sewers of Paris, risking everything
to rescue a wayward boy like Marius. At that moment, he realizes Valjean is not
some numbered, meaningless convict destined for destruction, but is a truly
good and righteous man. Being a Bible study teacher, I thought of Paul’s
teachings in the New Testament letters that the law was fulfilled and fully
completed in the person of Jesus Christ, the picture of truth and grace. Where
sin and lawlessness abound, grace much more abounds! The law, as perfect as it
may be, will never exceed grace!
***Spoiler Alert***
While theologically there are problems
with comparing this story to the Gospel of grace, Christian themes are still present,
adding powerfully to the story. The
highlight of the movie comes at the end where Valjean dies in a convent, having
fled Cosette and Marius’ wedding to spare them the pain of his past. Hugh
Jackman was beyond wonderful in these scenes! I had to bite my cheek to keep
from sobbing like an infant, and unfortunately I had forgotten the tissues!
Valjean makes his peace with God, having
lived a full life because of the love that has been in his heart. With Cosette
and Marius by his side, he dies peacefully, hearing the familiar voice of
Fantine. His spirit follows her to join the souls of the fallen men and women
who so diligently fought for freedom from bondage and tyranny. But Cosette and
Marius are left to start a new, happy life devoid of the tragic pain that has
plagued Valjean for so long.
The final image is one to remember—of Valjean and all the fallen heroes singing that wonderful song, “Do You Hear the People Sing?” Even in death and destruction, there is hope for a better tomorrow, a better world to come. We believers in Jesus Christ know that day is coming, soon and very soon!
The final image is one to remember—of Valjean and all the fallen heroes singing that wonderful song, “Do You Hear the People Sing?” Even in death and destruction, there is hope for a better tomorrow, a better world to come. We believers in Jesus Christ know that day is coming, soon and very soon!
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