Les Mis

The first time I watched Les Miserables on TV ages ago, I dozed off, which annoyed my friend Vlad Reyes. The musical play was based on Victor Hugo's novel with the same title. Our very own Lea Salonga was on this show.  I woke up towards the end of the play.

In 2012, a movie based on the same novel was produced. I was looking forward to watch it but didn't have the time to do so...until it was shown in TV. "This time", I told myself, " I won't doze off!". And so, my family and I watched the movie together.

Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, couldn't start anew his life. No one welcomed him except the saintly Bishop Myriel. In spite of the kindness shown him, he stole the bishop's silver plates. Strangely, when he was caught and dragged back to the bishop, the prelate defended him saying that he (the bishop) actually gave those silver ware to Jean. He even offered the candlesticks and asked the soldiers to release Jean.  This gesture touched Jean that he changed his identity, owned a factory, and became a town mayor.

Everything seemed to go smoothly until he met his nemesis Javert as the town's new inspector. Javert was the same guy who made Jean's life difficult in prison. This became more complicated when Jean rescued Fantine from being arrested and, promised to look after the dying lady's daughter Cosette.  Jean fulfilled his promise, but not without the Thenadiers and Javert chasing him.  

Jean was not an evil person for there have been many episodes that he did good, particularly adopting Cosette as his own. Like most if not all of us, he was faced with trials that almost made him lose focus.

The story, for me, is a story of  mercy.  It began with the bishop who didn't give up on Jean. Jean in turn showed compassion - to Fantine who had fallen to prostitution so she could send money for her child, to Cosette who has lost her mother and was at the mercy of the evil Thenadiers, to Javert whom he set free when captured by the revolutionists, and to Marius whose life he saved from the hands of the soldiers.  Mercy was also shown to Jean by that man whom he saved from the heavy cart when this man offered him and Cosette a safe place in the convent. Indeed,  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

I am touched with that scene on Jean's death. Below are some lyrics of that scene:

Fantine (as a ghost): 

Come with me

Where chains will never bind you

All your grief

At last, at last behind you.

Lord in Heaven,

Look down on him in mercy. 

Valjean: 

Forgive me all my trespasses

And take me to your glory. 

Fantine: 

Take my hand

And lead me to salvation.

Take my love,

For love is everlasting. 

Valjean, Fantine and Bishop Myriel (all ghosts):

And remember

The truth that once was spoken

To love another person

Is to see the face of God.

The movie is truly a wake-up call for us to realize how God is merciful and how He calls us to do the same. It's also a wake up call to the poverty and suffering around us and what we're doing with these evils. I think this is a good movie as our country celebrates the Year of the Poor this year and as we get ready for the Jubilee Year of Mercy come December 8.  This may sound as a rather late advertisement, but if you still haven't watched Les Mis, please do so.