When I read somewhere this movie described as the best movie about the _banlieus_ since **La Haine**, I was expecting a movie about the street and undecipherable dialogues, what I got was wildly different.

While **Les Misérables** is indeed a movie about the _banlieus_, it's nothing like **La Haine**, which is a good thing. We live the story through the eyes of a newly transferred policeman who comes into this environment armed with an idealistic view of the world and a certain set of morals and principles, and through the journey he takes with his two new partners we see that things are complicated and not at all black and white.

The film explores many themes, mainly centered around the theme of power: acquiring it, displaying it, abusing it, and the illusion of it. As the events build up, the perpetual cycle of violence is exposed and laid bare for the viewer to see.

For a first feature-film directing effort, **Les Miserables** is rather excellent. I recommend it.