Are you familiar with Les Misérables?
It feels almost silly to even ask, since it's such a masterpiece—a story handed down as a novel and adapted into a musical countless times.
And of course, it's been made into films too. This time I'm introducing the soundtrack to the movie.
I say 'soundtrack,' but since it's a musical, everyone is naturally singing throughout.
I'm eager to dive straight into the score, but let me give you a bit of background first.
'Les Misérables' is a story set in the later years of the French Revolution era, written by Victor Hugo.
Hugo released many famous works, but among them the best known is probably the original of Disney's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.'
While the Disney version of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' is softened up, the original is bleak to the point of being utterly hopeless.
Now, about 'Les Misérables'—the original French edition contains all sorts of political material, like Napoleon's Hundred Days, but a great deal of it was cut when it was translated into Japanese. It arrived in Japan during the Meiji era, and the translator, Ruiko Kuroiwa, published it under the title 'Aa Mujo.' He also translated works like Alexandre Dumas's 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (titled 'Gankutsu-o' in Japanese). His distinctive turns of phrase were apparently quite difficult, and even the three versions available today—the Kadokawa Bunko, Iwanami Bunko, and Shincho Bunko editions—give vastly different impressions.
As for the story: it begins when the protagonist, Jean Valjean, steals a single loaf of bread as a boy, which lands him in prison doing hard labor. But he escapes and meets a bishop. The bishop offers Jean Valjean a modest meal, but after eating, once everyone has left, Valjean tries to steal the silverware. Yet he can't bring himself to be a villain. When he confesses his crime to the bishop, the bishop forgives him. And so begins Jean Valjean's journey of redemption.
Later, Jean Valjean changes his name and becomes the town's mayor. There, at the very last moment before her arrest, he saves Fantine, a woman who has sold her hair and sunk to a life of prostitution. The song that plays in that scene is 'I Dreamed a Dream,' sung by Anne Hathaway as Fantine. It's the most iconic of iconic Les Mis numbers.
Well then, have a listen. Anne Hathaway's 'I Dreamed a Dream.'
Next up is another song that's synonymous with Les Mis: 'Do You Hear the People Sing.'
It's sung in the scene where the people of Paris, who rose up in 1832 (the June Rebellion) to overthrow the July Monarchy, clash with government forces.
The lyrics are also influenced by the French national anthem, 'La Marseillaise.'
Well then, have a listen. 'Do You Hear the People Sing,' belted out by a whole crowd including Aaron Tveit, Eddie Redmayne, the students, and the Les Misérables cast.
Lastly, let's part ways with the film's trailer.
It's a deeply moving movie, so I really hope everyone gives it a watch.
