Les Misérables is a French film directed by Ladj Ly, which was released in 2019. The movie tells the story of a team of anti-crime police officers in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris. The main character is a new recruit named Pento, who is initially eager to do his job and protect the citizens of the neighbourhood.
However, Pento soon discovers that things are not as simple as he thought. The neighbourhood is divided into several gang territories, each with their own code of conduct and hierarchy. The main gang, led by a man named Salah, controls most of the area and has a shaky truce with the other gangs.
At the start of the movie, the police officers are called to an incident where a lion cub has been stolen from a travelling circus. While investigating the theft, they cross paths with a young boy named Issa, who they suspect is involved in the theft. As they interrogate Issa, tensions rise between the police officers and the local residents who feel oppressed by their presence. The situation quickly escalates, and the officers find themselves trapped in a dangerous and volatile situation.
To make matters worse, a local gang member has captured the entire incident on a drone camera, which he uses to blackmail the police officers. As the situation intensifies, the officers struggle to maintain control and avoid a violent confrontation with the local gangs.
Les Misérables is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that explores themes such as social inequality, police brutality, and the complex relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It was well-received by audiences and critics alike and won the Jury Prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
