So thereβs this guy, Javertβtremendous law and order guy, okay? Nobody respects the law more than Javert. He believes in rules. Big believer in justice, no exceptions. Some people say too much justiceβtoo tough! But not me. Heβs doing what he thinks is right. Very strong!
Now thereβs this other guy, Jean Valjeanβtotal disaster at first, stole a loaf of bread, can you believe it? One loaf. Sad! But then he turns it aroundβstarts a business, helps people, really classy stuff. But Javert? Heβs not buying it. He says, βOnce a criminal, always a criminal.β Very tough, very focused. Heβs like a border wall with legsβnothing gets by him!
But thenβ Javert starts to crack. He sees Valjean being a good guy and He canβt take it. Doesnβt compute. Law or mercy? Rules or humanity? Itβs a mess. A big, beautiful existential crisis. Eventually, Javert canβt handle it, andβboomβheβs out. Walks off the job forever. Very tragic. Very French.
In the end, great story, tremendous drama. Very emotional. People cry. I donβt cry, but people do. They cry to me! Big strong guys, with tears in their eyes coming to me all the time they say βsir,β -they always say sir. Javertβstrong guy, but not so strong in the end. Very sad.