Les Miserables

I am a huge musicals fan. Give me the option of going to the theatre to see anything I wanted, it would be a musical. And most likely, I would go to see my favourite musical. Les Miserables. So I’m sure you can imagine my excitement that this fantastic story has been put on film.

I was first taken to see Les Miserables when I was 7 years old. I must admit, I didn’t really follow the story, and fell asleep in the second act, but I immediately fell in love with the music, and a 15 year obsession began. I have seen the stage show a further 2 times (once in London, and again on the 25^th Anniversary tour) and watched the Anniversary DVD’s countless times. I now fully understand the story, appreciate the music ten times more, and try to share my enjoyment of the show with everyone around me. I even managed to read the book last year!

The key plot of the musical is the pursuit of a police officer of a convict over many decades. The musical starts with the convict (Jean Valjean) being released on parole by a police officer (Javert). Once Valjean is released, he finds it difficult to find work and is very bitter. A priest then offers him hospitality, but Valjean steals his silver and escapes before some local police officers catch him. The priest comes to Valjean’s aid, instead of condemning him, and says the silver was a gift, and even gives him more! This causes a deep change in Valjean, and he resolves to restart his life with a new identity, but always seeking to do God’s will.

Javert knows Valjean has broken his parole, and then becomes obsessed with finding him and bringing him to justice. The 2 characters meet numerous times in the musical, and while the audience can see the change in Jean Valjean, Javert remains convinced that a convict can not change and continuous to try to bring Valjean to justice.

I will leave the plot there, as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who may be going to see the film.

This plot of redemption and condemnation speaks to me every time I see the show, and it can reflect experiences we encounter on a regular basis (although maybe not quiet so dramatically).

On the side of Jean Valjean there is a great story of redemption and change. He completely turns his life around and achieves great things. Without the conversion, many would have suffered and died. This speaks to us of the true transformative power God can bring into anyone’s life – God doesn’t only work in the ‘good’ people, but in the lives of the lowest of the low as well.

On the side of Javert there is a story of a man filled with prejudices the end up consuming his life. He refuses to admit that God can work the kind of transformation Jean Valjean has gone through, and when he finally faces that transformation, Javert can not cope. How often do we see people through the eyes of our prejudices? Do we admit they can change, and accept it when they do?

We must remember that God can do more than we can imagine. He works his transforming power in the lives of anyone and everyone, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, and we should accept and acknowledge these changes when they occur.