From Book To Film: Les Miserables - Does The Film Live Up To The Musical?

Jean Valjean Was A Cold Case

Les Miserables A friend and I are writing a paper on common fictional misconceptions right now and because he happens to be reading Les Miserables for the first time, this is one of the examples that we use. In the movie, so much of the plot has to be condensed and so many storylines have to be abridged that you get the impression that all Inspector Javert did for all those years was hunt down Valjean. Not so, my friends. In fact, the famous "Who Am I" trial moment has more to it than that. After Jean Valjean confesses that he is Valjean instead of the poor fruit-stealer who "goes to judgment in place," he does escape Javert's judgment...eventually. He does so by faking his death. After his confession, Valjean does go to Fantine before her death and promises to care for her daughter. Javert shows up, but Valjean does not escape him then. He leaves with Javert, escapes, is recaptured and is sentenced to death. That sentence gets changed to a life of penal servitude for life. He is working in one of the ports when a disaster befalls, much like the runaway cart. He manages to save a man who is caught in the rigging of a ship, but falls to his "death" from there. Javert therefore gets on with life and his duties as a policeman of France. Years later, he does have the cold case of Jean Valjean reopened and the eventual thrilling storyline of their final game of cat and mouse ensues.
Contributor
Contributor

That's Kaki pronounced like the pants, thank you very much, my family nickname and writing name. I am a Red Sox-loving, Doctor Who-quoting, Shaara-reading walking string quartet of a Mormon writer from Boston. I currently work 40 hours at a stressful desk job with a salary that lets me pick up and travel to places like Ireland or Philadelphia. I have no husband or kids, but I have five nephews to keep me entertained. When not writing, working or eating too much Indian food, I'm always looking for something new to learn, whether it's French or family history.