I got to see Les Mis this weekend and just had to share my thoughts. I hadn't been familiar with this story since college and have never seen the show on Broadway. So for me, it was almost brand new.
And I know I can be a tad dramatic and overly sensitive. But movies can effect me for days, or even weeks because I feel things and process things so deeply. When I came home from watching this movie my husband commented that I looked like I had just run a marathon because he could just see how wrecked I was by this story. At one point during Fantine's emotional scenes, I actually had to leave the theater. I just could hardly breathe taking in all that her character suffered through, all for the love of her daughter. It had me undone.
But the biggest impact this film had on me was the miraculous concept of grace and mercy and redemption. Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God, because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it.
I love that. My heart was pounding while watching Jean Valjean's heart literally changed by divine grace. Undeserved, unmerited, unrelenting love poured out which is only possible through God's presence in your heart. He became a new man despite suffering incredible injustice. That's the power of grace.
I am so thankful that I'm not bound by religious law, but rather live in the freedom of divine grace. I'm not a big fan of the word 'religious'. It has a connotation of endless rules and man-made rituals and a distant God who keeps a score. This is the life that Inspector Javert lived....ignoring injustice and refusing to let the God he claimed to serve truly enter his heart. I can only hope to live as Valjean did. Living and breathing this grace that God gives us. Where our struggles and weaknesses and mistakes are where His power is made perfect. And redemption is free to anyone who believes.
I'll be singing this beautiful score for weeks to come...
And I'm thrilled that Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway won the Golden Globes for their performances! They were so brilliant.
3 comments:
I haven't watched this latest version of the movie yet, but everyone is talking about it! Makes me think maybe I should! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it. I guess I should prepare myself to feel wrecked.
I haven't at all seen any production of Les Mis and am going to wait a bit I think. I am very much the same way. I recently, as you probably know, saw Pride and Prejudice. It has affected me that same way. I couldn't get over it! Something so moving and beautiful. Amazing how it makes us view the world so differently.
Hope you are well Bri!
xx
Every time I see it I am deeply impacted by it. I love the portrayal of grace that runs throughout it. I love what you said about it & I'm glad you enjoyed the movie too!
Post a Comment