Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Year: 2020

Runtime: 102 min

Language: French

Director: Ladj Ly

Echo Score: 80

Budget: $2.1M

In the Parisian suburbs, a newly arrived officer named Stephane joins a local police brigade in Montfermeil. He quickly finds himself caught between rival neighborhoods and complex relationships with his colleagues, Chris and Gwada. A seemingly simple arrest escalates into a tense situation, further complicated by the constant surveillance of a drone, revealing the fragility of order and the simmering tensions within the community.

Tense
Ambiguous ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Fast pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Les Misérables (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Les Misérables (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2018

Taking place in 2018, the film echoes a time of both national pride and social unrest in France. Coinciding with the celebration of the French national football team's World Cup victory, underlying tensions between law enforcement and marginalized communities reveal a deeper narrative of struggle and survival. The year becomes a pivotal moment reflecting societal issues present during this period.

Location

Paris, Montfermeil

The film is set against the backdrop of Paris, a city known for its rich history, culture, and vibrant street life. Montfermeil, a nearby suburb, represents a more complex urban reality where social tensions and conflicts often surface. The contrasting environments highlight the dynamics of class and ethnicity within contemporary France.

🌍 City 🏙️ Urban 🚧 Crime

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

Main Characters – Les Misérables (2020)

Meet the key characters of Les Misérables (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Stéphane Ruiz

Stéphane Ruiz is a newly assigned police officer navigating the challenging dynamics of law enforcement in Paris. He grapples with feelings of discomfort regarding his partners' aggressive tactics yet often finds himself conflicted instead of taking a definitive stand. His character embodies the struggle between upholding the law and recognizing the complexities of the community.

👮‍♂️ Officer 🤔 Conflicted 🌍 Newcomer

Chris

Chris serves as the squad leader within the police unit, displaying aggressive tendencies toward the local youth. As a character, he reflects the tensions between authority and rebellion, often prioritizing power over empathy. His flawed approach to policing reveals the struggles faced by those in positions of authority amid socio-economic pressures.

👮‍♂️ Leader 🔥 Aggressive 💔 Flawed

Gwada

Gwada is a brigadier who often turns a blind eye to Chris's misconduct, showcasing a lack of moral integrity in his role. His character represents the systemic issues within law enforcement, where personal stress and professional duties collide, leading to reckless decisions. This inner turmoil compels him to navigate the dangerous waters of guilt and denial.

👮‍♂️ Brigadier 😟 Indifferent ⚠️ Systemic Issues

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

Major Themes – Les Misérables (2020)

Explore the central themes of Les Misérables (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

The theme of justice permeates the story, exploring the moral dilemmas faced by law enforcement. As the characters confront the consequences of their actions, the film questions the integrity of the justice system when juxtaposed with social inequality. It raises critical discussions about accountability, authority, and the true meaning of justice in a fractured society.

🔥 Violence

Violence is a recurring element that showcases the volatile relationship between the police and the community. The film presents raw and intense moments where aggression and retaliation spiral out of control, ultimately affecting all parties involved. This theme serves as a critique of how societal conditions can breed cycles of violence.

🤝 Community

Community ties play a crucial role in the narrative, highlighting the complexities of familial and social bonds. As characters navigate precarious alliances and conflicts, the sense of community is both a source of strength and a catalyst for tension. The film reflects on how different backgrounds and experiences shape relationships and responses to conflict.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about a single-day urban crisis like Les Misérables

Stories where a city's tensions explode over one frantic, relentless day.If you liked the fast-paced, single-day collapse of order in Les Misérables, explore these movies. They feature similar urgent stories of community tension and police conflict erupting over a short, intense timeframe, creating a gripping and anxious viewing experience.

urgentchaoticfreneticgrittyanxiousunsettlingoppressive

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear, escalating structure, beginning with a minor incident that rapidly spirals into a major confrontation. The focus is on the collective experience of a neighborhood or institution under extreme stress, often told from multiple perspectives to highlight the systemic nature of the conflict.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared high-intensity, fast-paced structure that unfolds almost in real-time, their gritty depiction of urban social fractures, and their focus on the explosive consequences of systemic pressure on a single, fateful day.

Movies about moral ambiguity in law enforcement like Les Misérables

Stories of police officers trapped in ethically gray and violent systems.For viewers who appreciated the complex portrayal of police ethics in Les Misérables, this list features similar gritty dramas. These movies delve into the heavy moral conflicts faced by officers within corrupt or violent systems, offering tense and thought-provoking stories.

grittytenseunsettlingoppressiveheavymoral conflictsystemic failure

Narrative Summary

The typical journey follows a law enforcement protagonist, often a newcomer or an idealist, who becomes ensnared in a situation that challenges their morals. The plot forces them to confront the brutality and failure of the system they represent, leading to a crisis of conscience and an ending that offers no easy resolutions.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their deep exploration of police brutality, systemic failure, and the heavy moral burden carried by their characters. They share a tense, gritty tone, high emotional weight, and often conclude with ambiguous or bleak endings that reflect the complexity of the issues.

Unlock the Full Story of Les Misérables

Don't stop at just watching — explore Les Misérables in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Les Misérables is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Les Misérables Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Les Misérables, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Les Misérables Summary

Les Misérables Timeline

Track the full timeline of Les Misérables with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Les Misérables Timeline

Les Misérables Spoiler-Free Summary

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Les Misérables Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Les Misérables

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Les Misérables: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Les Misérables

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Les Misérables (2020) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Les Misérables (2020) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Les Misérables (2020) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow