Les Miserables - Movie Review

Mike and I recently went to see Les Miserables.  I even learned how to pronounce it!

This movie was so very different from "Parental Guidance" in nature, but actually I think both had a lot to say about forgiveness. Les Miserables is a very dark movie, though.  I mean that quite literally.  There are actually only a few scenes shot during a time of sunshine. The following trailer comes early in the movie and it gives you a sense of the hopelessness many of the characters felt.

One thing I really enjoyed was the singing!  It is quite beautiful.   The characters were not singing to a soundtrack; that was obvious. The whole movie felt a bit like watching a major play production, but with really, really good seats.

This trailer will give you an idea of some of the majesty of the film.  I would definitely use the word "gritty" to describe most of the scenes. At first it is difficult to imagine this film has any potential to be uplifting, but it really is in a way. It shows characters who are in the most miserable situations, who have been abused and mistreated. It shows good people resorting to theft and prostitution to survive. I  know, that still doesn't sound very uplifting.

The thing is, at the end of the film you realize you have seen depictions of people who are remarkable in their ability to let go of hatred.  Someone else may get something totally different from this movie, but to me, that was the central theme. And how important is that!? Even in our ordinary lives it is so easy to cling to hatred of those who have hurt us. Yet, that hatred just continues your own pain.

So, yes, I recommend this film.  You need to know that it is very, very long.  Mike said the guy in the seat on the other side of him kept sighing. You need to know that a lot of it is difficult to watch, emotionally wrenching and downright grimy.  You need to be in the right mood for it when you go. Afterward, though, I think it is one that you will be thinking about for awhile.  You'll get your money's worth and love wins out in the end...just as it should.

My Life as a Tart

When Mike was a new pastor we attended a week-end gathering just for new pastors and their spouses.  The bishop of the Montana Synod was there, as well as quite a few pastor/spouse couples.

One of the things memorable to me was a little communion service we attended.

OK, I don't remember the parts that I should remember but I do remember that when they "broke the bread" it was actually a hotdog bun!

Another thing I remember was an informal gathering with the bishop.

He was talking about how we needed to grow into our new communities beyond just the church we (and by "we" I mean Mike) were serving.

His point was that we needed to lead our lives as anyone else in the community, meeting others outside the church and expanding on our own interesets.  Most of us had already been in our new roles for up to a year so he decided to involve us in the conversation.

He went around the room asking us to each name something we'd already been involved in that was outside our church circle.

When it came to me I said, "Well, I've been a tart."

Of course, that caught his interest.

Here's the story...

I had been invited to play a bit part in a local musical.  I was told I would be an extra, a saloon girl just singing in the chorus.  Four other women were also talked into these roles.  One was my good friend, Gwen.  We had a blast!  Gwen was also new to the community and was teaching at the elementary school.  The other two women were a lot of fun as well.  One was a physical therapist and the other a nurse.

As the rehearsals went on, apparently someone thought it was kind of funny that the new pastor's wife and the new elementary teacher were playing these roles.  The play was "Paint Your Wagon".  I do not think I had ever seen that play or movie before but I soon came to realize the "saloon girls" were actually ladies of the evening! 

Another woman in town was a dance teacher and they called upon her to incorporate our characters into the play a bit more.  She choreographed 4 dances and taught them to us.  It was so much fun!  Someone else found costumes for us, complete with fishnet stockings!  The local newspaper guy came and took our pictures and put us in the weekly paper.  Unfortunately, I've lost my copy of that professional photo and my only proof is this poor photo.  Nevertheless, I think you can see that we were enjoying the attention.  I am the second one from the left.  My friend, Gwen, is on the far right.

So there you have it...my life as a tart!