This French movie is a 20th century version of Hugo's classic. The story itself is entirely different, with a new Jean Valjean who identifies with the original hero shown in flashback throughout the film.
The story is mostly about this new Jean Valjean and his life during the Nazi occupation of France and his relationship with a Jewish family that he attempts to save from the Holocaust. The story is beautifully told with a superb cast led by Jean-Paul Belmondo in three roles. The movie flawlessly weaves the characters' lives together to an enormously esquisite and life affirming conclusion. Superb in all aspects of film-making.
Hats off to Claude Lelouche (writer-director) and everyone else associated with the making of this fabulous epic.
The story is mostly about this new Jean Valjean and his life during the Nazi occupation of France and his relationship with a Jewish family that he attempts to save from the Holocaust. The story is beautifully told with a superb cast led by Jean-Paul Belmondo in three roles. The movie flawlessly weaves the characters' lives together to an enormously esquisite and life affirming conclusion. Superb in all aspects of film-making.
Hats off to Claude Lelouche (writer-director) and everyone else associated with the making of this fabulous epic.