PLOT

(A Long) Synopsis for "Les Miserables (2012)"

Based on the original stage musical, "Boubil and Schonberg's Les Miserables" from the novel by Victor Hugo

Directed by Tom Hooper

The movie starts in 1815 in France—in a setting of a prison where Jean Valjean, an overly retributed loaf thief, is imprisoned for 19 years. He finally gets released after all those years he had suffered in that prison and after all those years of being a slave. Before he gets released, a Monsieur named Javert melodiously calls him "24601" which is his prison number. Jean Valjean also replies to him and tells him that he is "Jean Valjean.” This is very significant in the movie since it tells us that Javert will not forget the prisoner.

Jean Valjean tries to search for a job but because of his unsightly reputation of being imprisoned for 19 years, no one accepts him.

The sun has already set and Jean Valjean has not seen or determined where he will settle for the night. Settling in front of a nearby church, he was offered food and shelter by a bishop, but, deceived by temptation, he steals his silvers. The authorities caught him but, though untrue, the bishop states that he offered the silvers to him as gifts and requested for his immediate release.

Moved by the compassion of the bishop, Jean Valjean vowed to live his life anew and his tearing of his parole form symbolizes this decision.

After 8 years, he is now successful and wealthy factory owner in Montreuil, hiding behind his new identity.

Fantine, a woman who works in Jean Valjean’s factory, receives a letter, saying that her daughter, Cosette, is very ill. The other jealous, conniving workers find this out, and her boss, who had an admiration on Fantine, unjustifiably removed her from her job. Meanwhile, Jean Valjean could not help her as he sighted Javert, the man who handled him as a prisinor, with a letter for him.

Losing her job, Fantine needed money to support her ill child. She tries selling her hair, her teeth and even her body and dignity, all for a few franks. Fantine, restless and tired, sees and recognizes the owner of the factory she worked in, Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean then brings Fantine to the hospital for treatment and vowed to take care of her daughter’s medical support.

Going back to the factory, Javert confesses to Jean Valjean that he had mistaken him for the convict he has handled before, who he is, and that they found the “real” Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean, feeling responsible for the life of the man whom they mistook for him, confesses his real identity, 24601.