‘Les Misérables’ vies for Oscar after win at Durban film festival
More than 150 years later, the stark similarities between today’s youth and the novel's protagonists are uncannily similar.
Les Misérables. Picture: SRAB Films
Les Miserables, which won the best feature film and best screenplay awards at the 40th Durban International Film Festival in July, has been selected as the official French submission for the 92nd Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
Les Miserables, which also won the coveted Jury Prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, is the debut feature film from director Ladj Ly who co-wrote the screenplay with Giordano Gederlini and Alexis Manenti.
The film is produced by Toufik Ayadi, Christophe Barall and stars Damien Bonnard, Djibril Zonga and Alexis Manenti.
Les Misérables. Picture: SRAB Films
Inspired by the French riots of 2005, Les Miserables follows Stephane, who has recently joined the anticrime brigade in the Paris suburb of Montfermeil.
Alongside his new colleagues he quickly discovers that tensions between neighbourhood gangs are running high.
When the team find themselves overrun during the course of an arrest, a drone captures their every movement, their every action.
Director Ly explores contemporary Montfermeil, the same place where novelist Victor Hugo chose to set his epic novel, Les Miserables, in 1862.
Les Misérables. Picture: SRAB Films
More than 150 years later, the stark similarities between today’s angry, hoodie-wearing youth and Hugo’s protagonists are uncannily similar.
Videovision Entertainment’s director of acquisition and distribution, Sanjeev Singh, said: “Les Miserables is a compelling film that tells the story of a marginalised migrant community in Paris.
“Ladj Ly has crafted an incredible film and we believe it will be a strong contender for the best international feature film Oscar, as well as other prestigious awards during the awards season.”
Les Miserables will be released in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment through United International Pictures (Africa), on January 17, four days after the Academy Award nominations are announced.
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