Setting:
Setting is a vital part in Les Mis. It helps show the binary opposition between the rich and the poor - an example of this being the contrast between Marius' lodgings and his grandfathers house. Setting is also used to demonstrate the hardships of life in 18th Century France, everywhere you go there are people dying on the streets, and the over all effect of the rotten housing and the poverty is a very bleak, almost grey overtone to the film. This also contrasts with the setting for Marius and Cosette's wedding - The scene is bright and happy, and the scenery echoes that. This is also used effectively at the end of the film when protagonist Jean Valjean dies and ascends to Heaven. The setting is noticebly cleaner and brighter, there is also more colour than before. This is illustrates the freedom from poverty, hatred and everything bad that comes with death.
Costume and Makeup:
Costume and Makeup is also used in Les Mis to illustrate the difference between rich and poor. It is used particularly well to illustrate the differences between Cosette and Eponine. Near the start of the film, a young eponine is showed being showered in affection by her parents, the Thenardier's, and she is wearing a royal blue bonnet, in comparison with Cosette, who is abused by the same couple and kept in rags. Later in the film, Cosette wears expensive silk dresses, and is cared for by her adoptive father, whilst Eponine wears rags, has messy hair and is only used as a pawn in her parents scams.
Props:
The Bishop's silver Candlesticks serve as a vitally important symbol within Les Mis. They symbolise second chances, change, and forgiveness.
Lighting:
Lighting is used to show the bleakness and darkness in the film - When something tragic has happened, the lighting is lowkey, often only lit by candles. If there is a happier moment, the lighting is bright and highkey. A good example of this is the epilogue. When Valjean dies, the church is dark and lit with lowkey lighting, but when he moves on to Heaven, it is highkey lighting.
Figure Expression:
Figure expression is important in any musical, but is especially important in the Les Mis Song 'One Day More'. Due to the many characters singing at different times, the use of figure expression is important to understand the emotions the characters are feeling.
