Sucre, a.k.a. Jean Valjean

So I'm currently obsessed with Prison Break and a couple of weeks ago Sucre's plot line took an interesting twist. It so closely mirrors the plot line from Les Mis that it will--without at doubt--be recognizable to those of you who are familiar with the story. Since you might teach it in class, I thought it would be a good choice!

The setup: Sucre has broken out of prison and is on the run. He's made it to Mexico where he's meeting the beautiful Mari Cruise, but the town where's he meeting her is far away. A nice man offers him a place to stay for the night, which Sucre accepts because he sees that he has a car in his driveway. Although the man is nice Sucre is focused on one thing--getting to Extapa to see Mari Cruse, so he steals the car in the night. Sucre gets caught and is brought back to the man's house by the local police officers.

The audience takes an authorial, third person point-of-view while we watch what transpires once Sucre arrives at his benefactor's house. Although Sucre's "benefactor" speaks to the officers and chooses to confirm Sucre's story that he'd loaned him the car, the use of reverse shots between the two characters creates the illusion of conversation although the two are not speaking. In addition, the use of close up reaction shots proves there is often little need for dialog to convey emotions. Although Sucre speaks only one word during the scene the audience sees him travel through a myriad of emotions: fear, hope, despair, astonishment, guilt. All are evident in his expression during their silent exchange.

Indicative of the action/adventure genre, each pause between dialog or action seems drawn out and creates tension as it builds toward the scene's climax. Each time Sucre's benefactor answers a question he pauses meaningfully. The audience is on the edge of its seat while it waits for the reply to the all important question of whether Sucre has borrowed the car, as he has claimed, or if it is was--as the police are convinced--stolen. Many of the benefactor's answers are cryptic, which makes it even more difficult to discern what will happen. He tells the officers, "I'm glad you brought him back." The long pause leaves the audience wondering, "Why is he glad? Is he going to throw him in jail? Why doesn't he just say something?" He is speaking mainly through with his expression to Sucre, so the audience has no choice but to wait for his words to see what will happen. The pause gives the ordinary line, "I forgot to give him gas money," impact it would not otherwise have.

Lighting also plays an integral role in communicating. The flashing police car lights are the major source of light and flash on one side of Sucre's face while the other face is in shadow. The close up shot of the money, silhouetted in red, when the benefactor reveals he is offering it to Sucre for gas signifies its importance. Then see the the two hands in shadow, illuminated by the red and blue lights of police car while the money slowly changes hands.

Finally, when Sucre tries to apologize--his one word in the scene--his benefactor cuts him off, telling him instead to "Find his girl, then find grace." This line of dialog captures the essences of what has just been expressed visually.

Of course, those of us who have seen/read Les Mis already new what was going to happen. BUT, Will Sucre become a changed man, found a city, lift a cart with inhuman strength, fall in love with a prostitute suffering from TB and raise her child in a convict? Only time will tell!