An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France. Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.
Cinema Atlas Connection
I also wanted to take the film out of the studio, because I was influenced by the French New Wave, by films like 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' [Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, 1964]. That film shot on location, used natural light, and had a great sense of visual truth. I wanted to apply that aesthetic to Les Mis.