This version concentrates on the story of Valjean and Javert, with less emphasis on the romance between Cosette and Marius. Thénardier, a key character in the novel, appears in just one scene; his daughter, Eponine, is only seen in the background. Many fans of the musical version bemoaned the loss of Eponine and her love triangle with Marius and Cosette.
The trailer and many photo galleries include Jean Valjean falling on his knees and tearing up his yellow passport. The scene doesn't appear in the final film.
The town in which Jean Valjean becomes mayor is named Montreuil-sur-Mer in the book. This is a real port town in the region of Calais, across the waters from England. English readers of the book often missed this fact, as most past translations transcribed the town's name "blanked out" as "M____-sur-M__". In the movie the town is called Vigau, a name made up of the first and last syllables of Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables.
After Cosette is told by Valjean about his past and they leave the house. Marius goes to the house and starts banging on the door shouting for her. The door is equipped with a Yale lock, not invented until 100 years later.
The movie depicts what has been called the June Rebellion aka the 'Uprising of 1832,' when a large group of Parisian Republicans consisting mostly of working class and students staged an insurgency against the French monarchy, which was then headed by Louis Philippe I. Protesting against poor working conditions and bad economic conditions, they barricaded the streets and held out for two days (June 5-6) until the national guard and thousands of soldiers broke through the barricades, killed hundreds of the insurgents and effectively ended the uprising.
Q
Is 'Les Misérables based on a book?
A
Q
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?