The interpretation of the great novel in the realities of the 20th century. Another amazing film Jean-Paul Belmondo And also based on my favorite work Hugo, which I not only love, but worship him. I reread Les Miserables 5 times, it is much more pleasant and closer to me than even the famous Notre Dame of Paris. And now we have made a very original film, based on this great work, which takes place in the early 20th century, capturing the Second World War.
The famous novel Victor Hugo is very popular all over the world and is a record holder among the most screened. No matter how much you have to watch the versions of Les Miserables, there is always one that you will rarely hear about on television or read in the fashion press. Like this film, which became the subject of attacks from fans of creativity Hugo. Claude Lelouche's version provoked a storm of contradictory reviews, despite the fact that the film became one of the best in the career of this famous director. The events of the original moved to the twentieth century, and begin with the first minutes of the story, carrying the protagonist through all the loudest cataclysms of history. Jean-Paul Belmondo plays several roles at once, including the unfortunate driver Henri Fortin, forced to serve his sentence for a crime committed by another, and his son, named after his father, who faced the brutal atrocities of the fascists in the early forties.
The famous director Claude Lelouch has fulfilled his long-held dream - making an attempt to film a classic novel. The most daring and original adaptation of the novel Victor Hugo. In the center of the plot of the film Lelouche - the fate Henri Fortin, who lost his father and mother at the age of eight. The only close person for a little Henri is the owner of the tavern, a rude and uneducated person. Henri Can not read, his only talent is boxing. With the beginning of the Second World War, life Forten changed radically. He meets a Jewish family with whom he is experiencing the horrors and trials associated with this difficult time. The second storyline of the film is devoted to Jean Valjean, the original character Hugo. "Les Miserables" was filmed by different directors. However, not all books are easy to film and this one of them. A film about love, faith in man, hatred and senseless war An interesting contrast between character, justice and humanity.
Unlike the previous adaptations of Les Misérables, here the director quite strongly departed from the original text, changing the plot structure and leaving the main idea of the work the same. Unable to transfer to the screen all the events of the novel, Lelouch focused on the most interesting and problematic moments. One of the most notable films Belmondo of the 90s, undoubtedly, was the main role in "Les Miserables"
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Of course, the war is shown here rather superficially, but the main thing is not that. The main thread of the plot, taken from the great novel, and the emphasis, in my opinion, is on the heroes of this story, on their actions, on their attitude to everything, on their fates and life’s troubles. The rest is just in the background, so do not berate the director for his free interpretation Hugo. He did not try to film a novel, but made a story based on a novel, and these are different concepts. Heroes have other names, but their characters and fates still resemble the heroes of the novel. There are also traitors luring people into a trap, and vile people living on the money of the person they saved, and vile policemen who allegedly serve their country, but in fact turn out to be traitors. The book itself appears in the film as the favorite book of the protagonist, who saw something in common in his biography with the biography of Jean Valjean.
Watching the movie is very interesting (especially since I have never seen it before). Once again, you are convinced that the classic is because it is timeless. Lelouch showed that "Les Miserables" are relevant always and everywhere. All over the world there are and will be their Les Miserables, you just need to see them. And the story of the story of a French writer, I think, no one better than a Frenchman to shoot, although always and everywhere there are exceptions. This film is a real drama. French dramas impress and conquer no less than French comedies and melodramas.
It is a good idea to draw such an analogy. It still exists. Hugo is eternal Mercy, compassion and sincere repentance for their sins will save the world. The fate of man depends on one mistake of himself and of the judges, who must be men whose blood of conscience and law flows uniformly in the veins, for whom a man, whoever he is, remains a man. A judge who decides the fate of a person or a prosecutor who demands the death penalty, think before you make a verdict - your mouth decides the fate of a person.
A very unusual film. Unusually tragic and at the same time beautiful. It touches on different aspects, not just love. It is a pity that the film was shot in gloomy tones. Sometimes I wanted to see the sunshine. Different topics are raised, such as: What is more important than to transgress the law by following lawlessness, but to remain a human being, or to pursue justice ambitiously for the rest of your life, and to be insensitive to people? Actors naturally convey the qualities of their characters. The film raises different questions: Living by the rules is better than living without them? Is there a right to kill someone if you hate them?
Belmondo is great in this role, and even if Lelouch decided to make a historical costume film in the 90s of the 20th century, I think it would be better Belmondo for the role Jean Valjean, no one would fit. And the great Jean Gaben, who also played in a costume film of the 50s. And both actors are called Jean, as well as the main character of the novel by the great Hugo.
I think this film, this film adaptation is quite worthy of viewing. Even those who categorically do not accept any deviations from the book, I think it will be useful to see this film.
9 out of 10