WARNING: SPOILER ALERT* 
If you’ve been to the movies in the last few years, you’ve probably seen this movie poster for the award-winning film, Les Miserables. The movie is based on a French historical novel by Victor Hugo and elaborates on historical events, politics, moral philosophies, religion, justice, and more. The depiction on the movie poster may seem self-explanatory but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and this movie poster is more than just a photograph of a young child.

These are some observations that I made when analyzing the photograph:

-The photograph is a recreation of the iconic Les Miserables drawing

-a young child with blond hair.

-She has very distinct blue eyes.

-She looks like she lives in poverty because her hair is ratted and she has dirt on her face.

-The colors are simple and kind of washed out/faded.

-The photo fades to black on the right half.

-She is not smiling.

-The movie title is written in gold.

-There are four basic words- FIGHT. DREAM. HOPE. LOVE.

-The names of all the big actors in the film are at the top of the poster, but are pretty small (probably so that they don’t detract from the image).

-The wind seems to be blowing the child’s hair in front of her face, but she doesn’t care to move her hair out of her eyes.

-you can’t see her clothes or anything below her neck, it focuses solely on her face.

-her face is centered to the right side of the photo, emphasizing the “rule of thirds” as a photographer would say. This is more aesthetically pleasing.

Connotations:

-While many would argue that the story told in Les Miserables is about Jean Valjean, I would argue that much of the story revolves around Cosette. Her mother sacrifices her life for her well-being and happiness, and in the end, so does Jean Valjean. Both characters would do anything for Cosette. In the midst of so many “miserable” things that happen to them, Cosette is their greatest joy. She brings a light to their life, despite the dark tragedies. The contrast between the dark background and Cosette represent the hope that she brings, not only to Jean Valjean and her mother, Fantine, but to those fighting upon the barricades.

-Her blue eyes: Cosette’s eyes aren’t just any blue, they are striking and immediately capture your attention. The color blue represents and is associated with many different things. Compared to the fire and intensity of red, blue is cold and often instigates feelings of sadness and loneliness. According to research, the origin of bright blue is associated with strength. Many (if not all) of the characters in the story make brave decisions and the blue of her eyes portrays their strength and courageousness.

-The contrast of the darker blue in the background of the photo represents trust, dignity, intelligence, and authority. The plot of Les Miserables involves many of these elements. For example, at the beginning of the story, Jean Valjean steals valuable silver from Bishop Myriel. When he is caught by authorities, Bishop Myriel lies and tells the police that he had given the precious metals to Valjean. From that point on, he devotes his life to being an honorable and dignified man.

-She is dirty and poverty-stricken because she has lived a hard life. She fails to smile, but despite the trials she has endured, she is unshakeable. She stands for the simple words that are written “FIGHT. DREAM. HOPE. LOVE.”

-Although Cosette grows up throughout the story, she is portrayed as her young self in the photo because she represents innocence. The innocent and humble intentions of her mother, Fantine, and the innocence the Jean Valjean has regained at the end of his life by devoting himself to being an honorable person.