from the 1935 best picture contender starring fredric march and charles laughton, through the 1958 adaptationled as one of the first french blockbusters, to the more recent adaptation of the hit stage musical that proved that whatever else he can do, like running you over with a big truck, unhinged star russell crowe really cannot sing. at all. # leave it all in flames...# the latest film to take its title from victor hugo's 19th century novel is cesar winning contemporary drama that was nominated for best international feature. a streetwise tale of dispossessed mass problem once again to the brink of rebellion. writer director ladj ly‘s film largely plays out, immortalised in hugo's novel where a new member of the anti—crime unit learns about the neighbourhoods rival factions and two colleagues whose methods blur the line between policing and harassment. when a drone camera captures video footage of a violently botched arrest, tensions between police and residents reach boiling point, threatening to throw everyone in the lions den. building on his 2017 short film, ly‘s debut presents feature