This December, Les Miserables — commonly referred to as Les Mis, is coming back to the big screen. There are been twelve movie versions in the past (Jim has used some clips of the great 1998 version in at least one sermon) but this is the first time it will be a musical. While the voices of the upcoming movie simply cannot match some of the amazing people who have sung on Broadway or in London, I am really excited about it. You can watch the trailer below:
Les Mis is my favorite musical. I saw it for the first time with my French class when I was a senior in high school. It was my first time to see a musical, and for some reason our seats were behind posts so we actually ended up sitting in the aisle for the entire performance. I was completely and totally captivated.
After seeing the musical, I read the entire (think long) book by Victor Hugo, which is an amazing story of law and grace. There are several intertwining stories set during the French Revolution in the nineteenth century.
One story line involves Fantine, a tragic character who sings these lines about her life in the famous song “I Dreamed a Dream” that is featured in the above trailer for the movie:
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living,
So different now from what it seemed…
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed…
As the musical progresses, grace intervenes, and the havoc that sin wrecks gives way to life. As they talk about their future, the cast sings lyrics full of biblical overtones, including:
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the plough-share,
They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
Themes of redemption, self-sacrifice, scandalous grace, justice, corruption, forgiveness and most of love, abound.
Although the possibility of snow seems almost impossible in this wonderfully warm weather, it’s great to know there is already something to look forward to.
Lisa
P.S. The movie is not yet rated but since sin is rarely G-rated, it will not be appropriate for children.