A literary classic finds new urgency in French cinema
THE 29th French Film Festival, which opened on 6 November with ‘Les Miserables,’ brings a wide variety of audiences, from students and film enthusiasts to foreign nationals interested in French and Philippine cinema.
A story written more than 160 years ago continues to resonate today as Fred Cavayé’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables brings its enduring themes of injustice, poverty, and redemption to the big screen.
Serving as the opening film of the 29th French Film Festival in Metro Manila, the nearly three-hour historical drama offers a fresh interpretation of Hugo’s literary masterpiece, reminding audiences that the struggles portrayed in the novel are not confined to the pages of history.
For first-time viewers familiar with the story only through its popular musical adaptations, Cavayé’s version offers a different experience. Without musical numbers, the film allows its characters and their circumstances to carry the emotional weight of the narrative.
Despite its lengthy runtime, the film maintains a strong emotional connection with its characters. What initially feels like a demanding three-hour commitment gradually becomes an immersive journey, leaving viewers with a sense of longing rather than relief when the end credits roll.
Rather than simply recreating previous adaptations, Cavayé gives the classic a distinct cinematic identity while remaining faithful to the story’s central message. The absence of musical elements does little to diminish the emotional power of Hugo’s work.
More importantly, the film’s themes find a familiar context among Filipino audiences. Social inequality, poverty, abuse of power, and the pursuit of justice remain realities that continue to shape public conversations in the Philippines. While circumstances may differ, the questions raised by Hugo’s work remain relevant: How does society treat its most vulnerable, and what does it truly mean to seek justice?
The film serves as a fitting introduction to the 29th French Film Festival, which explores French history, literature, feminism, animation, and French-Filipino collaborations through a selection of 24 films.
Organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, in partnership with SM Supermalls, SM Cinema, Institut Français, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, this year’s festival runs until 30 November across six Metro Manila venues.
Screenings at SM Aura and SM City Manila run until 15 November, with free admission on a first-come, first-served basis and no registration required. Additional screenings will take place at Alliance Française de Manille, QCinema November Gateway, and the Animahenasyon Festival.
Through Les Misérables, the festival opens with a reminder that some stories endure not simply because they belong to literary history, but because the realities they confront continue to exist.