The Bishop sees Valjean as condemned by the law but capable of being saved by grace.
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In fact, the real historical figure on which Jean Valjean was based was in reality pardoned.
FORBES: Law And Grace In Best Picture Nominee 'Les Miserables'
Among the items on display is the Valjean convict costume worn by Hugh Jackman while filming scenes in the city.
Valjean, who would have shown mercy and resolved the situation with much better results, is focused on avoiding detection by Javert.
FORBES: Law And Grace In Best Picture Nominee 'Les Miserables'
Yet this formidable actor hasn't mustered the musical variety, and therefore the dramatic power, to make Javert compelling as an individual, rather than an instrument of Valjean's fate.
Valjean (Hugh Jackman) serves nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread: a punishment that he regards as unjust, though in fact it reflects well on the status of French baking.
The gardener at the convent in Paris who offers Valjean sanctuary, knowing that he is a fugitive, but also knowing what kind of man he is, is acting according to a higher law.
FORBES: Law And Grace In Best Picture Nominee 'Les Miserables'
Unwittingly, Thernardier serves a purpose for good: The stolen ring on his finger when he attempts to crash the wedding of Marius and Cosette leads them to find Valjean before the dramatic moment of death.
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As her path crosses with Valjean, he promises to look after her daughter, but in her delirium Fantine imagines her child Cosette is playing beside her - a moment which brings on another flood of tears.
One does not have to legalize stealing bread to forgive Valjean: one must only forgive the relatively small evil of stealing bread in order to avoid the greater evil of keeping a good man in a position of perpetual fear.
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Valjean would be racked with guilt.
FORBES: Law And Grace In Best Picture Nominee 'Les Miserables'
Valjean broke the law, and nothing else matters, not the cruelty and injustice of the whole ugly system, not the good deeds which Valjean has done while being an illegal, not the community which depends upon him for the fruits of his labor.
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