"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men?" - A quotation taken from the film, Les Misérables. This novel by Victor Hugo turned musical drama film is set in the 19th century France, a country divided by social hierarchy. Great tension between the clergy, nobility and the peasants is evident throughout the film. The friction kindled the minds of the schoolboys to start the French Revolution. But, was the democracy they died for worth fighting for? Click over here

Jean Valjean is convicted for stealing a loaf of bread. Given a chance to become a righteous man, he breaks his parole and lives a new life as the mayor of Montreuil, Monsieur Madeleine. From a life as a peasant, he becomes a part of the nobility. He crossed paths with Fantine, a worker turned prostitute due to unfavorable circumstances. Jean Valjean takes her daughter, Cosette, into his custody after Fantine's death. Police Inspector Javert was in pursuit of the escaped Jean Valjean and Cosette at this time. The young Cosette falls for Marius Pontmercy, a lad part of a revolutionary school club. The schoolboys are at the height of their plan to change France through a revolution. The French Revolution ensues. The people of the third state sing along the schoolboys, singing their angry song against the monarch, but little by little they retreat scared of being killed during the bloodshed. Ay the end of the revolution, they were cornered by the civil guards and the revolution that once dreamt change ended all in vain.

Viewers may expect the sparking revolution to be successful to change France upside down, as it was during the early 1800's lead by Napoleon Bonaparte, but it turned out on the contrary, a bloody and fruitless revolution. Why did Hugo bring emphasis to this event? This only shows that the angry songs of the peasants and bourgeoisie was unheard and disregarded. The lower class was scared of the higher class, alongside the monarchy that protected them dearly. This event also reoccurred when Fantine, a prostitute, was harassed by a noble man. Javert took the false testimony of the noble man instead of her truthful protest. The unequal treatment brought extreme indulgence to the affluent but extreme torment to the lower class. The poor ones are labeled as criminals and the rich enjoy freedom in their uncleanliness. The meager people of France and the schoolboys are truthfully The Poor Ones, thus Les Misérables. The French Revolution of the late 1700's brought radical change to the nation's system. It brought the overthrow of the monarch, and with this, the overthrow of inequality. Although democracy does not bring out the true essence of equality in itself, the mere fact that it brought the oppression of the poor into stumbles was enough evidence that the schoolboys died for something worth fighting for. The people's song was heard at last, the voice of the angry men.

As a viewer, I have enjoyed the film Les Misérables. It did not only give great cinematography and musicality but it rekindled my appreciation for the freedom and democracy that the Philippine Republic has. It also made me rethink my virtues on prejudices and discrimination. It brought clear understanding of respecting others and giving them rightful treatment for me, as an individual. I recommend this film for everyone with great interest in the world's history that also brings a new sense of thinking. Just as how I have, would you also like to hear the song of angry men?