Frédéric Cavayé presents ‘Les Misérables’ at Zinemaldia

Director Frédéric Cavayé presented his adaptation of Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ at the Zinemaldia (San Sebastián International Film Festival). Competing for the Golden Shell, the 178-minute film features a cast including Tahar Rahim, Camille Cottin, Benjamin Lavernhe, and Vincent Lindon.

Cavayé described the project as an adaptation rather than a remake, aiming to explore nuances and character facets that previous versions had omitted. He noted that the scale of the original novel is so vast that a separate film could potentially be made for every character.

The director emphasized the timeless and universal nature of Hugo’s work, stating that themes of ignorance, misery, and the need for fraternity remain relevant. He suggested that while revolutions change, the victims often remain the same, and advocated for a return to empathy and fraternity to address modern social issues.