"Les Miserables" is on the screen of the Sunrise Theater through Feb. 17.

Epic, yet intimate, this tale of romance and revolution set in 19th century France began as a monumental novel by Victor Hugo.

It was first transformed into an internationally acclaimed musical. Now director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") has brought the musical to the screen, making it at once familiar and new.

Set in the years leading up to the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, the narrative revolves around two intertwined relationships.

In the first, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) has, for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread, served 19 years in prison under the cruel eye of prison guard Javert (Russell Crowe).

In 1815, Valjean breaks his parole and vanishes only to emerge eight years later as a factory owner and mayor of Montreuil. There he is vaguely recognized by Javert, now the local police inspector.

This begins a tense cat and mouse game between the two that persists for years.

Meantime, one of the workers in Valjean's factory, Fantine (Anne Hathaway), loses her job, turns to prostitution and dies, leaving behind a daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). Cosette is rescued from her dubious caregivers by Valjean, who raises her as his own daughter.

We jump to 1832. The now-grown Cosette falls for Marius (Eddie Redmayne), a young revolutionary in Paris. This is the second relationship that drives the story on to the Revolution's barricades.

"You won't want to miss Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen as a pair of unsavory innkeepers who, according to Manohla Dargis of The New York Times, 'nicely stir, and stink up, the air,'" says a spokesman.

Much has been made of the real time, real voice singing of all the actors.

Ian Buckwalter of NPR says, "Part of the success of the performances in the film owes greatly to Hooper's decision to record the actors singing on set, rather than have them lip-sync to pre-recorded tracks, the usual method for filming musicals. The technique works exactly as intended: The actors, freed from having to match a vocal performance from weeks or months prior, are able to live in the moment. The impact on the emotional immediacy of the songs is striking."

The writer, Alain Boubil, and the composer, Claude-Michel Schonberg, who brought us the musical, also worked on the movie. The film and its actors have already received Golden Globe awards and are nominated for a raft of Oscars.

"So put this on your list of Oscar nominees to watch before the awards ceremony," says the spokesman.

"Les Miserables" plays at the Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 16, through Monday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. There will be no Friday night show and no Saturday matinee.

Tickets are $7.

"Les Miserables" is rated PG-13 for suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements. The film runs 157 minutes.

The theater has an excellent concession counter offering beer, wine, soft drinks, candy and popcorn with real butter.

The Sunrise Theater is a nonprofit organization providing a diverse range of programs for the community. The theater is currently raising funds for new digital projection equipment.

"If you will add $1 to your movie ticket price we'll put that dollar in the fund," says the spokesman. "Please also consider becoming a 'Friend' of the Sunrise."

Visit the Sunrise Theater at www.

sunrisetheater.com for more information about the theater and a complete calendar of events.