Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Les Miserables

Have you seen Les Mis yet? I've been twice thus far, and it always haunts me for days later. I have seen a local production of the musical before and watched the non-musical version of the movie, but none have moved and spoke to me the way this production did. It seems people either love or hate it. Those who have been lucky enough to have seen it in London may have not been as impressed, and I get that I suppose. When will the majority of the masses ever get to see such a quality rendition of it like this one? I could go on and on about the technical wonder of the movie, which if you want to read up on all that stuff cause you're interested like me, it's in the production notes which can be found on the official Les Miserables website. If that's your thing, I think you'll be impressed.
What made me love the movie though, was the story. The songs. Gosh, the songs. The whole story tells of the redemption available through forgiveness- and the hope we can find in the love of God. A priest's love sets Jean Valjean on a different path in life, which leads to the rescue and redemption of a young girl and her love. All of this is of course set against the antagonist- Javert, who believes once a criminal- always a criminal. Once fallen, always fallen.
It made me check my own heart. How quick am I to condemn those around me for past mistakes, effectively sentencing them to repeat them? Like Javert telling Valjean- "you will starve again" right after being told of his parole. Or, am I willing to love them, and myself, enough to give either of us a chance?
The end of the movie has a quote, "to love another person is to see the face of God." What is going to define my life? Love, or judgement? What am I going to fight for? This is what haunts me.

"Do you hear the people sing, lost in the valley if the night. It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth there is a pain that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise!
They will live again in freedom in the garden of The Lord. We will walk behind the plowshare, we will put away the sword. The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!
Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing, say do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes!"

Go see it!
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/lesmiserables/

1 comment:

  1. have not been able to see the movie yet, but if we get a chance, it's the one i want to see! hopefully i'll fall into the "love it" category like you!!

    it's funny you wrote about judgement b/c it's been coming up w/me lately, especially in regards to being judgmental while calling myself a Christ follower. 2 things that stuck w/me from this week-

    - just started reading "The Shack Revisited" (a follow up to "The Shack" and so far SOOOOO good!). anyways- the author talks about getting hundreds of thousands of responses to the book, mostly good (it too is kind of a love it or hate it piece i think). he says that from the helping community (teachers, A.A. leaders, counselors, etc.), he's only gotten 100% positive feedback.....from those in the trenches doing something for others. and the little bit of negative feedback he's gotten has come from......wait for it........the "church". leaders who were picking apart the theology instead of looking at the offer of hope. thought that was very telling. those "doing" the work aren't judging, and those being the pews were nit-picking

    - then secondly, just today, our sermon at church was on judgement and our pastor gave a bit of trivia (assuming it's true....don't know for sure). he said about 20 yrs ago if you polled a college campus and asked students if they knew any Bible verse, the #1 verse would be John 3:16, but now if you asked, the #1 verse said is Matt 7:1 "judge, lest you be judged". just shows how non-christians feel the need to be on the defense from those in the church. so sad.

    i don't really have a big point to all this other than i really want to watch my heart and inner attitude when it comes to judging others, especially outside the church. "christians" have done so much damage in the name of Christ by judging others and sadly, i doubt any have come to Christ based on those behaviors. anyways - just wanted to share those tidbits b/c i thought they were interesting and relevant to your post. now i really gotta get out and see that movie!!!

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