“This is the land I fought for liberty, now when we fight, we fight for bread! Here is the thing about equality, everyone’s equal when they’re dead. Take your place! Take your chance!”
– Gavorche
Motion pictures, popularly known as film or cinema, are living testaments of humanity’s culture and tradition which are reflective of our creativity, struggle, and vision. In the recent years and decades, people around the world have witnessed some of the most iconic and most loved literary works of varying generations being brought and adapted to the silver screen such as The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Fight Club by Chuck Palanuik, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. This phenomenon boasts how forms of literature and forms of media jive to produce quality and remarkable creations. Aside from their entertainment value, these films have the emotional affect and/or the social relevance which make them more interesting to watch.
Based on Victor Hugo’s French historical novel which some regard as one of the greatest of the 19th century, Les Misérables is an award-winning romantic, musical, period drama film produced at the United Kingdom under Working Title Films and globally distributed by the Universal Pictures. This has also been produced through numerous runs of a smash-hit, classic Broadway musical of the same name. It was premiered in London, England at the 5th of December of 2012 while it was released theatrically in the United States at Christmas Day of 2012 and in the Philippines at the 13th of January of 2013.
Directed by the Academy Awards Best Director for The King’s Speech Tom Hooper, Les Misérables revolves on the intertwined stories of a prisoner-on-parole who decided to change his identity fin order to start new life as he runs away from a ruthless police inspector, a factory worker-turned-prostitute who has an illegitimate daughter to take care which upon her death was given under the former prisoner’s custody, and a student who leads a rebellion against the unjust French monarchy and falls in love to the daughter of the former factory worker. This magnificent musical film gathered a powerhouse ensemble cast to showcase some of the most sought-after talents and personalities in Hollywood. This includes Hugh Jackman as the ex-convict Jean Valjean which later on became known as Monsieur Madeleine, Russel Crowe as the Police Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as the prostitute Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Fantine’s Cosette, and Eddie Redmayne as the student leader Marius Pontmercy.
This literary classic-turned-movie was set in France, one of the most developed and most influential countries in today’s modern world. But before the nation reached this current bountiful status, it was plagued with so many social and geographical issues in the past as the movie depicts France at the 19th century. It’s good to take a look on how the image of the nation was presented in the movie and how it evolved and developed through time until it achieved what it is now. Also, this situation isn’t exclusive to this country or area for until today, many sovereign nations and their people especially in the developing world are experiencing atrocities and injustices in their own societies by their fellowmen. Certainly, the image building of places and further development and transformation of societies involve diverse sets of social, cultural, and geopolitical forces.
Being a landmark film at the musical genre, we’re going to take a look at Les Misérables’ geographic sense through the lenses of some of its most memorable and most brilliant musical pieces which continually appeal to many, transcending them through generations.
Living up the dream (or nightmare)
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving-Fantine (from “I Dreamed A Dream”)
When Jean Valjean was roaming around France after his release after serving his 19-year sentence because of stealing one loaf of bread and multiple attempts to escape, destiny led him to the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Digne where he found food and shelter. The convent was depicted as a place of relief as he found relative comfort amidst all the struggles experienced after his release. But night came, he stole the silver which led to his arrest but luckily, the bishop lied to the police and instead, he stated that those silver he stole were his gift to Valjean which eventually secured his release. Because of the bishop’s generosity, Valjean vowed to start a new life with new identity as he torn the paper proof of his parole at the church’s cemetery.
At the final part of the movie, Monsieur Madeleine held his final breath with presence of Marius and Cosette at a local convent as he was being taken by Fantine and the Bishop of Digne to the Heaven. Even one of the most iconic lines of Les Miserables is sending a message with some sort of religiosity:
“To love another person is to see the face of God.”
-Jean Valjean
Being one of the major strongholds of Christianity in Europe specifically the Roman Catholic Church at that time, the members of the French society relatively adheres to the doctrines and teachings of the said religion and therefore, these influence their perception and beliefs. The church has also been portrayed not as a mere place for praise and worship but as a cradle of protection, hope, and conversion for the oppressed, for the marginalized, and for the impoverished.
Today, the spheres of influence of Christianity, with Roman Catholic Church in particular. is shifting from the Western World such as Europe, the religion’s heartland, and North America towards the New World including South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia with the Philippines as the country with the biggest Christian population in the continent. This trend can be considered as a colonial aftermath as these regions are mostly comprised of territories which are former colonies of the Europeans, especially those occupied by Spain, Portugal and Italy. The church in these regions are considered to be influential in the cultural and ethical development of the people, as well as in the political decision-making such as on controversial legislation on population control and divorce.
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now, from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed-Fantine (from “I Dreamed A Dream”)
Let’s take our next attention to another important character in the movie: Fantine. After being dismissed from the factory she’s working at, Fantine sold her hair and tooth, and satisfied a captain of his sexual urges in exchange of francs to pay for her debts and to cover the needs of her daughter, Cosette.
From a place of decency and dignity such as the factory, Fantine desperately turned into a place of darkness and disgrace such as the prostitution den just to hunt ways for survival. As she described the place she is living as hell, it signifies a deeply entrenched feeling of misery on her life and seemingly breaking the dream she dreamed.
Defining the masters of the house… at the end of the day
Master of the house, quick to catch yer eye
Never wants a passerby to pass him by
Servant to the poor, butler to the great
Comforter, philosopher, and lifelong mate!
Everybody’s boon companion
Everybody’s chaperon
But lock up your valises
Jesus! Won’t I skin you to the bone!-The Thénardiers (from “Masters of the House”)
The innkeepers, Thénardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham), brand themselves as accommodating and hospitable people in the name of business but truly, their aim is to make some living (and I mean dirty living) from their guests by stealing their money and belongings. They have a daughter, Eponine and also living with them is Fantine’s daughter, Cosette whom they treat unwell. She is under their custody until Valjean buys her out from the couple as he had promised Fantine before her death.
In a nation, there always arises the issue on power relations: on who’s the superior over the inferior ones. The Parisian elites are living at their fancy houses and riding on their posh horse carriages while the impoverished Parisians are residing at the slum areas or along the streets of the city. Those sitting in power such as in the government tend overcome and brush off those who are not in their same living standards. This social divide among people produced several problems in the society. Poverty brought and enhanced crime and corruption issues. This tainted not only the physical but also the cultural order and perception of the society.
Ultimately, the Thénardiers are the epitome of the masters of the house because they don’t just own it but they more of control it. They can also be the by-products of poverty in France, as they do corrupt practices in order to accumulate more wealth. In short, the people of France are at the Hunger Games, competing and striving to access the resources they barely need to live.
At the end of the day you’re another day older,
And that’s all you can say for the life of the poor.
It’s a struggle, it’s a war,
And there’s nothing that anyone’s giving.
One more day, standing about, what is it for?
One day less to be living.At the end of the day you’re another day colder,
And the shirt on your back doesn’t keep out the chill.
And the righteous hurry past,
They don’t hear the little ones crying…
And the winter is coming on fast, ready to kill.
One day nearer to dying!At the end of the day there’s another day dawning,
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise.
And the waves crash on the sand,
Like a storm that’ll break any second…
There’s a hunger in the land,
There’s a reckoning still to be reckoned…
And there’s gonna be hell to pay,
At the end of the day!-Poor Parisians (from “At the End of the Day”)
Above are the words of sentiment and outrage from city slum dwellers and factory workers. These go to show that people continue to struggle through the spaces of everyday life based on their place in the society they live in. Ordinary people endure hardships being imposed to them by the economic and political hierarchical system. At the end of the day, they would think that they are not the masters of the house.
At present, France as a nation drastically improved as it possesses one of the lowest poverty rates in the entire European Union and one of the countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI), according to the Human Development Reports of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which measures three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. Although in April 2015, the country has a significantly higher unemployment rate as compared to other European powerhouse markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany. These measures prove that France continues to move forward and to evolve to be a better nation of today, amidst the modern challenges and issues. On the other nations across the globe, being not the master of the house is a common scenario. In Africa and Asia, there are still many faces of poverty and underdevelopment (as “development” takes place). This goes to prove that there are many things to work on and to improve on these nations.
Knowing there’s one day more
One day to a new beginning
Raise the flag of freedom high!
Every man will be a king
Every man will be a king
There’s a new world for the winning
There’s a new world to be won
Do you hear the people sing?(…)
Tomorrow we’ll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
-Ensemble Cast (from “One Day More”)
The students such as Marius and Eljolras (Aaron Tveit), together with other young revolutionary students recognized as the Friends of ABC, named after the cafe they usually have their discussions, planning, and assemblies. They planned that during the grand funeral of the infamous General Jean Maximillen Lamarque, an iconic French politician at that time because of him being sympathetic to the impoverished sector of the country, they began the assault as part of their planned revolt and made barricades throughout Paris. Later on, the people of Paris didn’t support their cause which led to their eventual defeat at the barricades they built. But that doesn’t end there. As Marius marries Cosette and Valjean died, the latter joined his fellow revolutionary students as they continues to sing and fight for the people’s greater good at the Holy Barricade.
Paris, being the capital of France, represents the baton of power of the country as it is the center of commerce and the seat of the government and the monarchy. Capturing such place as Paris, just like what the students aimed, is a sign of dominance and victory for a certain group or cause over its opponent. This also recognizes that the youth can be active agents in forwarding and promoting societal change, as they have the eagerness and capability to call for reforms and revolutions.
Amidst all the conflicts and problems, there were many the ways the film provoked hope, love, and bravery; that there can be spaces of change, places of empowerment. Some movements may fail, but the fact that there are people who have the courage to make things happen and establish a difference is a positive and healthy sign that societies wouldn’t remain at its status quo. Societies must move progressively and march towards uplifting the lives of all. People must assert their rights and must not confine themselves on spaces of neglect. It might be a rough road ahead as it may overhaul the current (imbalanced) order of society, but making significant contributions to realize this will do.
So now, hear the people sing!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?-Combeferre (from “Do You Hear the People Sing?”)
The movie was set in an era so distant from the present but the classic message it aims to impart continues to live on, beyond the medium used to present it. The astonishing tunes and lines might captured (or tickled) our musicality and attention but more importantly, we must consider and see those movie elements as relevant messages of today, as the problems and solutions of the past evolved in their current modern forms. The challenge: break the barricade of injustice and inequality and live beyond it.
Content References
Media Credits
- http://25.media.tumblr.com/f58a594a2222ddfaae61327e4cc964d6/tumblr_mev1ylOU8l1rief6so1_1280.jpg (Featured Image)
- http://www.youtube.com/
COSMOPALISTAN 
