No, it’s nother adaptation of that Les Misérables, but there are plenty of nods to the famous story to earn the name.
There is unrest in France again, but this time it’s because an anti-crime brigade takes things way too far. New recruit Stéphane is the audience conduit, having just joined and learning the lay of the land from the more seasoned team members. They know the dynamics of Montfermeil, a suburb of Paris that also featured in Hugo’s novel, better than Stéphane, but their aggressive methods take him by surprise. His protests go nowhere, though, until a nasty altercation is captured on camera.
Les Misérables has been earning strong reviews for first-time co-writer and director Ladj Ly, who certainly isn’t easing into the business. These are hot-button issues his film is dealing with, and perhaps that’s why it’s been racking up awards and nominations. To top it all off, it’s been selected as France’s entry for the Oscar Foreign Film category, beating out several strong contenders.
It stars Damien Bonnard as newcomer Stéphane, with Alexis Manenti and Djibril Zonga as the seasoned veterans. This Les Misérables is hitting theaters with high expectations; hopefully it can live up to the hype.
Les Misérables is directed by Ladj Ly and stars Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, and Djibril Zonga. It will be released in the US on January 20th, 2020. For international release dates, click here.
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