March 2013 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Kingsville, MD

Les Misérables: The Most Lutheran Movie Ever?
by Rev. Peter Jonas
At first glance, anointing Les Misérables as a Lutheran movie may seem kind of silly. Victor
Hugo, the author of the novel the movie is based on, was raised a French Catholic and later
became an anti-clerical skeptic. The movie is set in 18th century France. Historically there
probably wasn’t a Lutheran closer to 200 miles from where the action takes place. Yet it is
remarkable how the themes and characters of the movie illustrate the heart of Lutheran
theology.
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen the movie and do not want to know any details of
the plot before going, it would be best to stop reading here.
The main character of the movie is Jean Valjean [portrayed by Hugh Jackman]—a man who
has been imprisoned for seven years for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread to feed his
starving family. At the beginning of the movie, a desperate Jean Valjean steals the silver service of a godly bishop who has
taken him in. The police capture him and bring him to the bishop. Amazingly, the bishop covers for Valjean by saying the silver
was a gift and then goes on to give him his silver candle sticks. At this point Valjean commits himself to living a life dedicated
to God and helping others. But he must break the conditions of his parole in order to embark on this new life and claim a
new identity.
This scene exemplifies grace. Valjean receives new life and a second chance as undeserved gift, not because he deserves it, or
even because he has repented of his faults, but out of sheer mercy and grace. As the Gospel of John says, “From Christ’s fullness
we have received grace upon grace.”
The two major characters of the movie are Valjean and a police captain named Javert [played by Russell Crowe]. After his
narrow escape from the law, Valjean does go on to fulfill his vows, successfully building a factory that employs many people
and becoming the mayor of his city under an assumed name. Javert relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking his parole and at
long last discovers his identity. Javert’s life revolves around the “letter of the law.” [Javert sings that] the law, like the beautiful
stars in the sky, is what is necessary to navigate through this sinful life.
Lutherans have always stressed the importance of both law and gospel in interpreting scripture. The law serves primarily to
convict us of our sin, thus paving the way for recognizing that we need salvation. But it also creates a foundation for a just and
civil society. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what saves humans and frees us for truly good works.
Valjean and Javert embody the tension between law and gospel. Lutherans believe that ultimately, in the light of the gospel,
the demands and the accusations of the law “must die” and a forgiven sinner “dies to the law.” Because Valjean has [violated]
his parole, Javert sees him as a plain criminal. There is no room in Javert’s black and white world for Valjean’s good works or
the mitigating circumstances surrounding his “crimes.” Through a strange chain of events, Valjean actually has the opportunity
to kill Javert and chooses to spare his life. Javert cannot bear to be in the debt of a criminal. His universe based on the “letter
of the law” is shattered. Finally Javert commits suicide. Javert’s suicide is an ominous fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 3:6, “The
letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”
Space does not permit an analysis of the many other Christian themes that pervade the movie version of Les Misérables. But
the two themes we have examined—the beautiful depiction of unmerited grace and the tension between law and gospel certainly
resonate with the heart of Lutheran thinking about the Christian gospel.
Source: Rev. Jonas is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA), Arcadia, WI. Pastor Jonas’ review of Les Misérables is reprinted
from the February 2013 edition of Christ Line, Christ Lutheran’s monthly newsletter. Les Misérables will be available
on DVD and Blu-ray this month.
March 2013
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