Les Misérables
Cert 15, 104 minutes, in cinemas 4 September
Starring: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga Director: Ladj Ly THE PLOT Newly transferred to the working-class Paris suburb of Monterfermeil (where Victor Hugo wrote novel Les Misérables), cop Stéphane (Bonnard) is teamed with a pair of unethical officers, despised for their tough tactics. When the arrest of a local youth goes awry, the trio scrambles to destroy video evidence. WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? Ladj Ly’s debut feature is a gripping crime tale that veers away from easy answers in its depiction of a disadvantaged community. WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT? You might regret the lack of strong female characters. VERDICT Visually ambitious and dramatically compelling, there’s a reason Les Misérables was chosen as France’s entry to the International Film Oscar category. Don’t miss. ★★★★★ Charles Gant