My predictions for the Andrew Davies Les Mis, if it ever happens:
- The politics will end up kind of emaciated. The revolution stuff will feel like a subplot rather than the arc that ties the story together. Davies just doesn’t do the socialist aesthetic. He does not hear the people sing.
- The Fantine section will get a lot of time, and will be suitably horrible. It will probably be the best part of the adaptation.
- We might get to see some of the Amis’ ladyfriends. This based on the fact that Davies likes giving women agency and sexing things up. My guess would be, at least, speaking roles for Musichetta and Bahorel’s laughing mistress. Maybe we’ll get to see Irma Boissy call R ‘impossible’.
- All the Dickensian stuff where everyone keeps meeting each other through bizarre coincidence will be ramped up to eleven
- It’ll be funnier than most Les Mis adaptations
- My mum will call me up repeatedly to discuss it with me
- It will feel strangely unsatisfying, mostly because of point 1: the costumes will be lovely and the acting will be good and it’ll still miss the point of the whole thing in a way that the scrappiest secondary-school production of the musical does not.
- I will spend a really long time explaining point 7 to numerous people who Do Not Care and will be quietly exasperated but I won’t notice because it will seem really important to raise! awareness!.
ARGH. Point (1) is where almost all my complaints about adaptations really kick in, because treating the revolution(or Fantine’s story,or the Thenardier’s, or the Marius/Cosette romance, or the GAMINS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD) as sub-plot totally loses what makes the book not just good but amazing to me, the way that all these different stories are intrinsically tied together and leading to the same place, all the little things inherently part of the grand conflict and the grand conflict inherently composed of the little things.
Trying to separate the story into sub-plots is just…just no. It steals all that wonderful drive from the story. Spotlighting individual characters and incidents is obviously a super fertile ground for transformative works, but for a representation of Les Mis itself, it’s a Big No for me, and yet it’s so incredibly common.
I mean,I’m gonna watch this if it happens, and if Fantine gets some decent focus that will be wonderful. And maybe it will be really good! I WILL HOPE.
les miserables
“Je crois à toi” vs “Je crois en toi”
As it turns out, grammar does matter, and Hugo knew it damn well. Something has always bothered me about this sentence, and now I know why. The difference doesn’t exist in English translations, because both “à” and “en” translates to “in”, hence Grantaire’s “I believe in you”. But it isn’t the case in French :
“Je crois à toi” isn’t grammatically correct. In French, you don’t believe “à” someone, you believe “en” someone. “Je crois à” is restricted to things and fictional beings, as in :
- Je crois à la Petite Souris (I believe in the Tooth Fairy)
- Je ne crois pas à la Révolution (I don’t believe in the Revolution)
There are a few exceptions (because otherwise grammar wouldn’t be grammar) but one thing is certain : “à” can not be used to introduce a noun or pronoun referring to a real person :
- Je crois en lui (I believe in him)
- “Je crois à lui” sounds wrong, as wrong as “I believe to him” sounds
Then, why does Hugo use both? Because Grantaire knows the difference as well. Grantaire is good with words and proves it more than once. Remember this quote : “Who has been unhooking the stars without my permission, and putting them on the table in the guise of candles?” ? Grantaire says it drunk. DRUNK. If this man can be that lyrical while smashed to high hell, why would he forget fundamental grammatical principles, all of a sudden?
Answer : he wouldn’t. He does it on purpose.He’s mirroring Enjolras’s speech :
“Tu ne crois à rien.”
“Je crois à toi.”This may sound insignificant and, yes, considering the length of the brick, it may be but bear with me. Grantaire is having a laugh, in this passage. Yes, he is serious, he does want to prove his value to Enjolras, but at the same time, he’s Grantaire. He can’t help himself but to play with words. And my best guess is that he’s teasing Enjolras, hence the “Be serious” “I am wild” that comes soon after.
Then what about “Je crois en toi”? Well, it’s a question of context. Look at the description preceeding Grantaire’s declaration :
“Grantaire,” [Enjolras] called, “go and sleep your wine off somewhere else.
This is a place for intoxication but not for drunkenness. Don’t dishonor
the barricade.”The sharp rebuke had a remarkable effect on Grantaire, as though he
had received a splash of cold water. Suddenly he was sober. He sat down
with his elbows on a table by the window, and looking with great
sweetness at Enjolras called back:“Tu sais que je crois en toi”
“Go away.”
Grantaire is serious this time. This isn’t a joke anymore. This is a real declaration he’s making here. Enjolras is yelling at him, and yet, Grantaire’s attitude is all but belligerent. I would even argue that “great sweetness” is far from the reverent and loving “inexprimable douceur” from the French text.
Unfortunately, Enjolras is so used to his lack of faith and seriousness that he dismisses it. Grantaire has disappointed him more than once by that point in the brick, so his attitude is understandable. But if Grantaire lacks faith in the cause, he doesn’t lack any in Enjolras. The tragic thing is that Enjolras doesn’t realise it and Grantaire’s serious profession of faith is dismissed. One last nail in your coffin? Look at what comes after :
“Grantaire, you are incapable of believing or thinking or willing or living or dying.”
“You’ll see,” said Grantaire gravely. “You’ll see.”
i love that jean valjeans alter ego is monsieur madeleine. madeleine is a french muffin. he is called mister muffin. how could this man possibly be a crook. why would javert ever suspect this man of any crime.
#IMAGINE JAVERT STORMING DOWN THE STREETS OF PARIS#LIFTING PEOPLE BY THEIR SHIRTFRONTS SCREAMING #DO YOU KNOW THE MUFFIN MAN #IM CrYING HOW DO I DEAL WITH THIS
e/r 11 o/
11. “I almost lost you” kiss
…I guess we’re doing July 1830 minific!
Someone is knocking on Enjolras’ door. No, not knocking,
pounding on it with growing ferocity. Enjolras braces himself and pulled
himself out of the chair where he had collapsed the night before. If it is the
police, better to be taken standing like a man than cowering like a dog. But
when he opens the door he finds only Grantaire, fist raised to bang on the
door again.Grantaire looks at Enjolras with wild, desperate eyes. “You’re
alive.” He takes in a shuddering breath and sinks down to his knees. “You’re
alive. I thought – I feared – I saw a body in the street and was too much a
coward to look closer. It is all have seen in my mind since. My memory gave it
your build, added every detail of dress and color to make it you. If it had
been – but no. It was some other fellow who has lost his Enjolras, some other
mother who has lost her son and child who has lost his brother. They must
grieve so I do not.”Enjolras tentatively puts out his hand, not knowing what to
do. Grantaire grasps at it like a drowning man reaching for a tether.“I am alive,” Enjolras repeats back to him. As rough and
hard as Grantaire seems, his heart is as gentle as Combeferre’s – and without the
steel of Combeferre’s convictions. He is suddenly glad Grantaire was not with
them for the last night’s action. He has no place in the business of killing
and dying for tomorrow; he lacks the faith that would turn the terrible into
the sublime. What Enjolras can endure would break Grantaire.Grantaire brings Enjolras hand to his mouth and tenderly
kisses it, like a pilgrim kneeling before a saint. “I will never leave you to
fight without me again. I cannot bear it. Whatever happens I will be by your
side. I swear it.”“No,” says Enjolras. It comes out sharper than he intends; a
rejection of Grantaire himself rather than an act of compassion.Grantaire keeps hold of Enjolras hand and looks into his
eyes, steady and calm at last. “You will see.”
I love this
CANON ERA GRANTAIRE: OSCAR ISAAC
He was, himself, moreover, composed of two elements, which were, to all appearance, incompatible. He was ironical and cordial. His indifference loved. His mind could get along without belief, but his heart could not get along without friendship. A profound contradiction; for an affection is a conviction.
i thought i would list some of The Best les mis quotes okay here goes
- “being thus ironical and bald, he was the leader”
- “beware! his hair filled with wrath, is epic”
- “brushing one’s teeth is at the top of a ladder whose bottom is the loss of one’s soul”
- “they amused themselves with puns which were considered terrible”
- “mathematically!”
- “to stray is human. to saunter is parisian”
- “‘by the way, have you any political opinions?’ ‘the idea!’”
- “mabeuf’s political opinion consisted of a passionate love for plants”
- “i have just met marius’ new hat and new coat, with marius inside them”
- “a leg of exquisite shape appeared. marius saw it. he was exasperated and furious.”
- “‘that’s a queer fish.’ she replied ‘he’s a saint’”
- “‘what a dentist!’ he cried”
- “we get on well together, my coat and i”
- “the oysters are spoiled, the servants are ugly. i hate the human race.”
- “comrades, we shall overthrow the government as true as there are fifteen intermediary acids between margaric and formic acid”
- “joly, perceiving a cat prowling on a gutter, extracted philosophy from it”
- “it is immoral that a mattress should have so much power”
- “glory to the mattress…!”
- “my cake tires me”
- “‘adorable!’ he exclaimed. then he blew his nose nosily”
- “‘but you ought to have a maid.’ ‘have i not marius?’”
- “‘all is explained. you understand.’ cosette did not understand a word.”
Book cover concept for Les Misérables, written by Victor Hugo. I thought I would depict the poor Fantine. Very inspiring excercise. I was actually watching the 2000 French ‘telefilm’ adaptation with Gerard Depardieu as Valjean while doing it. I feel a bit sick though, I think I’m having a cold and it was even harder for me to draw snowy stuff while sneezing :p