It But Instead Of Pennywise Living In The Sewers It’s Victor Hugo. Via @honhonhonlafayette [x]

Talking to people outside your fandom about your media of choice is always so interesting because after a while in fandom, you get used to the same old discourse but in real life you will be hit with some completely orginal and insane takes. I was taking about Les Misérables to some family friends over Christmas and they tried to argue that Javert was a completely unnecessary part of the plot. Like he didn’t need to be there at all. Truly a level of discourse that some of you on tumblr could only dream of coming up with

WOAH Victor Hugo okay-ed a translation!

I thought for ages he really was against his work being translated, but maybe that was just for English lmao (Did I make this up? I thought I read that he was against, e.g. the translation for Notre Dame de Paris into English.)

When the famous [Armenian] translator, Grigor (Krikor) Chilinkirian wrote a letter to Victor Hugo, requesting permission to translate his novel, the author replied: "I do not speak your ancient language, but I like it. It speaks of the Orient to me, evokes the centuries gone by, and I can see the mysterious gleam of the light of the past. It is an honour for me to be translated into Armenian."

Posted on Facebook by Armenian Virtual College - AGBU, 2019

I think the great thing about seeing Enjolras as the personification of Revolution is that as logical and cruel as he can be, he is still caring, he doesn't enjoy violence, he's capable of so much empathy and forgiveness...

If revolution were to be a person, I think it's so beautiful to think of them as compassionate.

Les Misérables used as political messaging across Asia (incomplete)

In my intro of my blog, I talk about the utilisation of Les Misérables for the purpose of giving political statements being available to search on my account. (Usually via the hashtag 'protests')

I'm just going to create a separate list (this one) compiling of information that I found which talk of certain events in countries across Asia. (as the list I have now in my intro largely limits itself to adaptations/translations only) If anybody has anything else to add, please tell me!

The following will have different levels of research be put into it. I've put a link to the post which has the most relevant information regarding to the matter for a quick link to the research, however it necessarily won't be the only informative post about it.

It's definitely a work in progress! Think of it as a blog update.

Otherwise, here's the list thus far:

1868 Armenia -> Pro-literacy movement via translation and how Les Misérables was used for political criticism and national consciousness

#1868 translation

1903 China -> Criticism of the Qing Dynasty & International relations (Western countries and influence on China)

#Su Manshu

1926 Vietnam -> Combatting the post-colonial state from the French Empire and Criticism of the Nguyễn Dynasty

#Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh and #Hồ Biểu Chánh and #Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa

1938 Japan -> Anti-war messaging.

#kyojinndenn

1945-9 Indonesia -> (Real world comparison to:) War of Independence / Indonesian National Revolution and the Dutch colonisation and Japanese occupation

#Indonesia independence

1955 India -> Criticism of the British colonisation and the representation of the Quit India Movement (Heavily incomplete- I need to do much more research regards to the historical background and setting)

#Kundan

1957 Malaysia -> (Real life comparison to:) Declaration of Independence (Merdeka) and ethnic & patriotic unity and the British colonisation

#Malaysia

2019 Japan -> Contemporary Japanese identity; protests and earthquakes (still largely incomplete)

#owarinaki tabiji

2019-20 Hong Kong -> Independence Protest ('dyhtps')

#Hong Kong protests

2020 Thailand -> Critiques systems of inequality, selective morality, (youth and women's) incarceration, women's rehabilitation centers. (Heavily incomplete- I haven't read the book yet nor have I researched Thailand's modern political climate regarding these themes.)

#A wish in the dark

Honourable mentions: Yang Kui (Taiwan: 1895-1945); Gezi Park Protests (Türkiye: 2013); Candlelight protest for the Impeachment of the President Park Geun-hye (S. Korea: 2016-7); Aragalaya protest (Sri Lanka: 2022).

Non-Asian shoutout: Fabrika's protest against President Mohamed Morsi's government and suppression on artistic expression (Egypt: 2013). [Context: It was in the midst of Calls for Resignation for the President.]

[These are put into 'honourable mentions' because Les Misérables was more of a mention in the protests or rebellion, rather than it being a consistent and a major factor for a cause or political belief.]

Maybes:

1996 S. Korea -> 70s-80s South Korea (Most likely a criticism of the political climate, but I haven't watched enough episodes to comment.)

#1996 Korean tv series

“ships should at least make sense.” no. ships can make sense, sure. but they’re just fictional characters we play with for fun. they’re fantasies, not a fucking thesis paper. so no, they don’t always have to make sense. they just have to make you happy (or horny).

let people enjoy (fictional) things however they want to enjoy.

Want to watch an Asian Les Misérables, but don't know which to pick?

Here are some options!

Les Misérables Peking Opera | 2 hours 12 minutes

There's action! Parkour! Cosette and Jean Valjean being a sweet family! Marius dressed up as Enjolras! Valvert content!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Dhb9x6w3g&t=1081s

Mandarin Les Misérables play soundtrack | 1 hour

It's an original stage adaptation that was made in collaboration with France! Because of this, it's super accurate, and the characters sometimes code switches to French. It's so accurate, in some parts they just quote passages from the book!

Plus the songs and music are so calming!

Unfortunately I don't have the full footage of it, only the soundtrack ⬇️

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kmdPwVy_md0_liubPYnBKmAp5uZTnT9o4&si=ilXnx-hPVkmcsCr4

Kundan | 2 hours 36 minutes

It's. So. Good!! Do you want to learn more about the Quit India Movement and the political state of India during the British colonial rule?

Do you want to see how other countries in the world incorporated the themes of social injustice and revolution? No one does it better than Kundan! Goated.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HQe9vNwA8&t=1837s

Iranian Musical production | 1 hour 32 minutes

Do you want to watch the famous musical of Les Misérables through the eyes of Iranian theatre? You get to see how they portray stage art, costuming, singing, and much more!

It is definitely a very unique adaptation of the famous stage production!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03tXbvE7HZA

Jean Valjean monogatari | 1 hour 25 minutes

No comment (because I haven't watched it yet sadly!)

But I hear the animation can be unintentionally goofy! And that it's an alright adaptation. That's a good enough sign for me!

Link: https://archive.org/details/lesmis_202102

Japanese Ballet production

You guessed it, it's a ballet adaptation of Les Misérables! What more is there to say about it? Watch it!

Unfortunately, there's not a full production of it uploaded, but there are long clips of them in the latter halves of these rehearsal videos. There are longer clips the further down in the playlist you get ⬇️

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLde0XoLxyblVGUDxdjBgPjFjCMiohKJgJ&si=zQn_BNUmUYRnwZwb

Owarinaki tabiji | 2 hours 23 minutes

Welcome to Les Misérables set in contemporary Japan! The movie begins with Jean Valjean stealing laundry, and an earthquake happening; a trauma which pushes him to become a better man. Also there's Valvert content.

What's more Japanese than laundry theft and earthquakes?

Link: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2047742481

Les Misérables (1992) | 11 hours

Even though this was a French production, the animation was made in North Korea. So if you're interested in how the art may look, you can go and explore! Plus, if you're learning French, perhaps this experience would be a good language practice!

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBqc73oQ4bMPU1KXsTg3QwzbTidZgjJDh&si=0o8gou_QpXpl4fsL

1996 Korean TV series

Les Misérables set in 70s-80s Korea! I haven't watched the whole way through due to the buffer time, but so far, it follows the story quite closely, all the while finding unique, creative ways in telling the story!

Link: https://programs.sbs.co.kr/drama/thief/vod/74918/22000462834

Korean Original Musical soundtrack | 42 minutes

Javert has an electric guitar accompanying him! I sometimes like to imagine him with a literally electric guitar while he's on the stage.

This musical sounds very modern and is super different from the sounds of Boublil and Schonberg's musical adaptation.

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lk2Bsybb7A-TjgcbtPX3RBGJd_DJ-jpaE&si=BIoMfMXqwtrw-J6q

Les Misérables (1974) | 12 hours

There's no English subtitles, so I haven't watched it (yet)!

I have seen some translated scenes, and wow, does it look beautiful! If you can understand Arabic, or don't mind watching without understanding the dialogue, then please have a look and tell me about it!

I would LOVE to hear what people have to say about this adaptation!

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFbmr0IDXgqsyfkOOY3eH4YbMVfmcLf0t&si=2ijFa11N3n5Jo9ay

Sefiller | 1 hour 25 minutes

We have seen many AUs being explored, but have we ever thought about MariusIsChampmathieu'sSon!AU and JeanValjeanDoesn'tConfessInTime!AU?

Well, worry not, this most famous retelling of Les Misérables in Türkiye has got you covered! Watch this to find out why this story became so famous in the country!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxb-mEt5ZyQ

Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa (1989) | 2 hours and 41 minutes

Set in late colonial Vietnam, based from the book of the same name with the author having been born during the colonial period and grew up with Vietnam after the French had left, we can see how Les Misérables looks through the eyes of a country who was a victim of the French Empire.

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOTJoiItzQApxi2IhK64kqYF_6GiyrLy8&si=tb5bzWUaeho7pO2s

Ngọn Cỏ Gió Đùa (2013 TV series) | 30 hours

Because the above movie was a success, they brought the same director in to make a longer, more detailed exploration of this world.

This might be the most famous adaptation of Les Misérables known in Vietnam.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj8dhOHha7U&list=PLs7jy9QFiFOK97yJTxti1ozmjBJypfqX3

Matching icons for you and the inspector who's been chasing you for decades

Have you noticed that JMB is one letter away from IBM ? Because I sure did, and that's what you got.

That was fun to draw.

The computer is 100% my Divoom speaker with a few more buttons. I love it.

That one was for @jbm-week ! Spread the JBM love !

An all too short TV commercial with rare footage of the first Canadian cast of Les Mis, 1989.