Anyone who knows me well knows how I love musical theater. That interest is something that I share with my daughter; unfortunately, it is difficult to find other human animals that will endure musicals. If Meg and I aren't together, we can't always find a willing escort--and, frankly, it's no fun to go to a show with someone who doesn't appreciate the artistry, the choreography (if there is any), the music, and the craft. Meg and I are both performers. We get it. Others don't.
The movie Les Miserables, which is based on a French novel by Victor Hugo, has been out since December. I wanted to go with Meg when she was here over the holidays, but there was no opportunity to break away from everyone in order to do that gracefully. I weighed my options. The movie is still showing here in Plainfield, but it is waning in opportunities. Thus, I asked one of my radio friends--a real movie buff--if he would go with me. He accepted.
A little more by way of background: I read the novel Les Miserables as a freshman in college--in French. Since I'd been an A student of French for four years in high school, I decided to take French in college...a 200-level course, considering my background. I didn't realize that a 200-level course put me in class with juniors and seniors--students who had been to France and even studied the language there. I was WAY over my head and insecure! When I say I read the novel, I should probably say that I TRIED to read the novel. I was swamped with vocabulary...and having seen the movie today, I'm quite sure I didn't finish the book! Megan saw the Broadway version on stage in Indy when she was in high school. She had a tape of the 10th anniversary of the show which we listened to in the car and sang along with as best we could. Some of the songs were quite haunting and beautiful. I could only imagine what it was like seeing it for real. Then they made a movie of it, and I got that chance today.
First, let me say that the movie was long. Even with popcorn. The plot, which follows the book, is complicated with many twists and turns. The people cast in the main parts are not musicins but actors of repute. (I wasn't sure how that would work.) The story, set in France at the beginning of the French Revolution, is depressing and bleak. There is very little by way of comic relief in the movie. And there are no spoken lines. Everything is set to music, with many reprises--same tunes throughout, but with different lyrics. If you can get through all of that, you are in!
There are metaphors within. In one of the first scenes, the main character (a prisoner) is made to shoulder the broken mast of a ship and carry it alone--a very obvious reference to the Christ, carrying his cross. The other prisoners are pulling a wrecked ship up by ropes and being referred to by number rather than name (reminding me of Ben Hur). Then there are street scenes with urchins and poor people and prostitutes who all sing with British cockney accents reminiscent of similar scenes in the show Oliver!, even though these people are supposed to be French. It's a British movie...but still...
Since I already knew the plot, for the most part, and the music from the days when Meg saw the Broadway version on stage, I was a bit concerned that the people in the cast were actors and actresses rather than musicians. I feared I would be disappointed. I wasn't! There is one scene where Anne Hathaway as Fantine has been forced into a life of prostitution in order to support her illegitimate child. The camera is close in her face for the entire song she sings (I Dreamed a Dream). Every nuance of expression, every tear and cough and choking expression is right there for all to see. What a superb acting job! As a person who used to perform, I could only respect what she had to pull up from her toenails to do that scene! I haven't seen the competition, but this young actress deserves an Academy Award for just that one scene!
The story is about redemption. There are reminders of Romeo and Juliet.
The whole thing is almost too much to take in at once. Still, I am glad that I saw it and most grateful to my friend who graciously went with me, in spite of his bias about musicals. Thanks, Ry!
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