Les Misérables

2019 1h 44m FR

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 1,632

CrimeDramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Stéphane has recently joined the Anti-Crime Squad in Montfermeil, in the suburbs of Paris, France, where Victor Hugo set his famed novel “Les Miserables”. Alongside his new colleagues Chris and Gwada – both experienced members of the team – he quickly discovers tensions running high between local gangs. When the trio finds themselves overrun during the course of an arrest, a drone captures the encounter, threatening to expose the reality of everyday life.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Damien Bonnard
Stéphane
Alexis Manenti
Chris
Djebril Zonga
Gwada
Steve Tientcheu
The Mayor
Jeanne Balibar
The Comissioner
Issa Perica
Issa
Al-Hassan Ly
Buzz
Almamy Kanoute
Salah

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ladj Ly
Writers: Giordano Gederlini, Ladj Ly, Alexis Manenti
Languages: French, Bambara
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Grossed $55M — a 21.8× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 7 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Bambara.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ladj Ly, shot by Julien Poupard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Pink Noise. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Flora Volpelière shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Damien Bonnard and Alexis Manenti and Djebril Zonga carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ladj Ly directs. Julien Poupard behind the camera. Pink Noise scores. Flora Volpelière cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, Bambara.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Grossed $55M — a 21.8× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.
3Released 7 years ago.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Bambara.
5Directed by Ladj Ly, shot by Julien Poupard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Pink Noise. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Flora Volpelière shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Damien Bonnard and Alexis Manenti and Djebril Zonga carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt10199590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "police brutality", "paris, france", "based on novel or book", "police".

The technical file

Cinematography: Julien Poupard
Original score: Pink Noise
Editing: Flora Volpelière
Costume design: Marine Galliano
Makeup / hair: Sarah Pariset
Sound: Marco Casanova
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Status: Released
Budget: $2,500,000
Box office: $54,606,372
Return: 2184% of budget
Original language: FR
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Les Misérables (2019)

Awards

Cesar of the public
European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year
César Award for Best Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Ladj Ly

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2020-01-10
★ 9/10
There was surprise when France chose to submit 'Les Misérables' as their entry for Best International Film at the upcoming Academy Awards rather than Céline Sciamma's beloved 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire', but the decision makes a certain degree of sense. Where 'Portrait' is a timeless instant classic that speaks to the ongoing human condition, Ladj Jay's debut film is so immediate and vital for where France, and indeed Europe, find themselves now. Just as in Victor Hugo's novel, they are on the brink of a massive cultural and political collapse, a crisis that will define their future as a multicultural and economic society. Its mostly conventional structure and approach make it far more accessible than you expect, but this is never at the expense of its intelligence or intention. 'Les Misérables' is a remarkable, electrifying and ultimately shattering film, a stellar debut for Ladj Jay, and most importantly, a work that feels necessary - not just for France, but for those that created it and those who see it. It's a thrilling act of cinematic protest. - Daniel Lammin Read Daniel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-les-miserables-a-remarkably-thrilling-act-of-cinematic-protest
badelf2023-12-29
★ 10/10
Just as Victor Hugo's novel is considered one of the most important books of all time, this movie may be one of the most important films of the of the 21st century. If you're expecting the musical - forget it - it's not. It's dirty and gritty and honest. There is no satisfying ending to the movie. The outcome of a single, individual story is not important. Published in 1862, Victor Hugo wrote in his preface: "So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth ... so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless." It's 2023. Nothing has really changed in 200 years. The story here is great, and relevant. The film is fabulously well-made.