Les Misérables

There was surprise when France chose to submit 'Les Misérables' as their entry for Best International Film at the upcoming Academy Awards rather than Céline Sciamma's beloved 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire', but the decision makes a certain degree of sense. Where 'Portrait' is a timeless instant classic that speaks to the ongoing human condition, Ladj Jay's debut film is so immediate and vital for where France, and indeed Europe, find themselves now. Just as in Victor Hugo's novel, they are on the brink of a massive cultural and political collapse, a crisis that will define their future as a multicultural and economic society. Its mostly conventional structure and approach make it far more accessible than you expect, but this is never at the e...

Just as Victor Hugo's novel is considered one of the most important books of all time, this movie may be one of the most important films of the of the 21st century. If you're expecting the musical - forget it - it's not. It's dirty and gritty and honest.

There is no satisfying ending to the movie. The outcome of a single, individual story is not important. Published in 1862, Victor Hugo wrote in his preface: "So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth ... so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless." It's 2023. Nothing has really changed in 200 years.

The story here is great, and relevant. The film is fabulously well-made.