Now Showing: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Genre: Historical/Musical/Drama

Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson

Writer: Walter McKnight

Based on the animated film and the novel by Victor Hugo

Cast: Taron Egerton, Hailee Steinfeld, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Walken, Robert Sheehan, Bernard Hill, Charlie Murphy, Santiago Cabrera, Peter Serafinowicz, Matt Berry

Plot: 15th Century France. Clopin (Robert Sheehan), presents a marionet puppet show for a group of children. He tells them that the story he is about to perform is the story of Quasimodo, the "Hunchback of Notre Dame". Clopin begins singing as he begins the show ("The Bells of Notre Dame").

1462. A Romani couple, Florica (Charlie Murphy) and Jehan (Santiago Cabrera) are attempting to sneak into Paris for a better life with their infant son. Just as they get close to the outskirts of the city, they are cornered by a group of soldiers working for Judge Claude Frollo (Christopher Walken). Florica and Jehan begin running away. Seeing Florica carrying something, Frollo tells his soldiers that the woman must have stolen goods. Jehan tries to stop the soldiers from grabbing his wife. The soldiers tackle Jehan and arrest him. Florica continues running, making it to the steps of the Notre Dame Cathedral. She pounds on the doors of the church, begging and pleading for sanctuary for herself and her baby. On horseback, Frollo himself catches up to Florica. He kicks her in the back of the head from atop of his horse. Florica goes tumbling down the stairs, breaking her neck and dying.  Frollo then discovers that Florica was not carrying stolen goods but rather a deformed baby when it begins crying. Frollo is about to drown the baby in a nearby well, calling it an unholy demon, but he is stopped by the Archdeacon (Bernard Hill) who accuses Frollo of killing an innocent woman. Frollo denies any wrongdoing, insisting the woman was a criminal and he didn't mean to kill her. The Archdeacon tells Frollo that he cannot hide from heaven. Feeling guilted by the Archdeacon, Frollo reluctantly agrees to raise the deformed child on the condition that the child grow up hidden away in the cathedral's bell tower. Frollo names the child Quasimodo as a cruel joke as it means "half-formed".

1482. Quasimodo (Taron Egerton) has grown up and continues to live in the bell tower. He has developed into a muscular young man with a heavily curved back, resulting in a large hump above his right shoulder. His face is still deformed as well. Quasimodo moves expertly and athletically through the tower as he feeds pigeons. He tells the birds that he thinks he will finally go to see the Festival of Fools in person this year. Frollo then arrives and discovers quickly that Quasimodo wants to go to the festival. Frollo becomes angry when Quasimodo points out that Frollo attends every year. Frollo insists that he only goes because he is required to go as a public official and hates every minute of it. Frollo reminds Quasimodo of his appearance, telling him that people will think he is a monster - even his own mother had abandoned him. Frollo advises Quasimodo to stay in the bell tower as it is his only safe haven ("Out There").

Captain Phoebus (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) arrives in Paris during the festival after many years away at war to serve as the new captain of the guards for Judge Frollo. He sees a gypsy dancer, Esmeralda (Hailee Steinfeld), being hassled by two guards, Victor (Peter Serafinowicz) and Hugo (Matt Berry), who have accused her of stealing a sack of coins. Esmeralda insists that she rightfully earned the money dancing for the crowd. Phoebus, who is immediately taken by Esmeralda's beauty, steps in and orders the guards to leave the young woman alone. Phoebus then introduces himself to the guards as their new captain and orders them to lead him to see Judge Frollo.

Even after Frollo's warnings, Quasimodo decides that he still wants to leave the tower and see the city. He sneaks out of the tower while wearing a large hood to hide his appearance. He tries to stay out of sight, but stumbles while trying to avoid a group of running children. He falls into Esmeralda's tent. She comments on his "mask", asking how he made it so lifelike. Quasimodo stumbles out of the tent, afraid to talk to Esmeralda.

Phoebus is brought before Frollo to become acquainted with his new position. Frollo begins listing off some highlights of Phoebus' impressive war record, which does not impress Phoebus. Frollo says that he expects Phoebus to do better than the last captain, who was a massive disappointment to him. Frollo explains that a major goal of his is to stop the gypsies from coming into Paris once and for all. Frollo tells Phoebus that he has heard they live in a place called the Court of Miracles. Frollo then tells Phoebus that he must attend the festival and invites his new captain to join him.

Esmeralda begins another dance as Frollo and Phoebus arrive ("Topsy Turvy"). Quasimodo is crowned the King of Fools by Clopin based on his "mask". Frollo is stunned to see Quasimodo at the festival. The crowd cheers for Quasimodo as Clopin announces that Quasimodo was crowned as the ugliest face in Paris. Frollo glares at Quasimodo. Guards, including Victor and Hugo, come in to break up the festival as they are supposed to clear out once they have named their King of Fools. The guards and the crowd conflict, resulting in a riot. Phoebus attempts to step in, but Frollo holds him back, suggesting he observe rather than act right now. Esmeralda helps Quasimodo. She takes the crown off his head, telling him that she doesn't like how the crowd made fun of him. She throws the crown at Frollo, feeling he deserves to be crowned as the biggest fool instead. Frollo orders his guards capture Esmeralda, but she manages to escape. Frollo then confronts Quasimodo, sending him back inside the cathedral. Frollo then tells Phoebus that he must bring Esmeralda to him alive.

Quasimodo walks back to the cathedral, saddened. He is being followed by Esmeralda, who herself is being followed by Phoebus. She realizes she is being followed and runs into the cathedral after Quasimodo, who has quickly climbed his way up to the bell tower to feed the pigeons. Phoebus enters as well and is attacked by Esmeralda. He tells her that he does not want to arrest her inside Notre Dame or at all if he can help it. Frollo then enters the cathedral as well and orders Phoebus once again to arrest the gypsy woman. Phoebus tells Frollo that he cannot arrest her, covering for her by saying that she claimed sanctuary and thus cannot be arrested as long as she remains in Notre Dame. The Archdeacon arrives and breaks up the commotion. Frollo grabs Esmeralda by the arm before he leaves, telling her that he is patient and she won't be able to stay inside the church forever. He then sniffs her hair as he is pushed away by Esmeralda. The Archdeacon kindly advises Esmeralda that it would serve her best to not anger Judge Frollo further as no good will come of it. She expresses frustation that the crowd would treat Quasimodo so cruelly just because he looks a little different. Seeing others praying in the cathedral, Esmeralda decides to give it a try, praying through song for all those suffering ("God Help the Outcasts").

Esmeralda explores the cathedral, eventually walking up the long staircase to the bell tower where she finds Quasimodo. He tells her that her singing was beautiful. He shows her around his home, telling her that she is the first company she has ever had. He tells her the names he has given to every single one of the cathedral's bells. He invites her to stay, but she says she cannot. Quasimodo tells Esmeralda that she is nothing like how Frollo has always described the Romani people. She asks how a cruel man like Frollo could have raised a sweet man like Quasimodo. He tells her that Frollo took him in when no one else would because of his monstrous appearance. Esmeralda offers to give Quasimodo a palm reading. She tells Quasimodo that he is no monster, only a misunderstood soul. Quasimodo offers to help Esmeralda sneak out of Notre Dame so that Frollo and the guards do not see her leave. She thanks Quasimodo and draws him a map to the Romani hideout, the so-called Court of Miracles, should he ever choose to leave Notre Dame. As she leaves, Esmeralda gives Quasimodo a kiss on the cheek, which makes him blush.

When Quasimodo goes back to the bell tower, he finds Phoebus going through his things. Quasimodo becomes angry that a guard would be searching his tower and demands he leave. Phoebus explains that he did not mean to trap Esmeralda there and simply wants to make sure she is safe. Phoebus leaves, apologizing for disturbing his things before he exits. Quasimodo looks out over Paris as he thinks about Esmeralda ("Heaven's Light").

Meanwhile from his balcony at the Palace of Justice, Judge Frollo is also overlooking the city of Paris. He is disturbed by the lustful thoughts he feels for Esmeralda. He prays to the Virgin Mary for guidance ("Hellfire"). Frollo goes inside and looks at his burning fireplace. He tells himself that Esmeralda will either be his or she will burn in hellfire.

In the morning, Frollo learns that Esmeralda has escaped Notre Dame. He orders a city-wide manhunt for her. He and Phoebus begin tracking down Romani people hiding throughout the city, even offering them pieces of silver for information on Esmeralda. Each person refuses, so Frollo has them arrested for obstruction of justice. Frollo traps a family that refuses to speak to him in their house is prepared to set their house on fire if they don't give him information. Phoebus is appalled, realizing that Frollo has lost his mind. Phoebus politely refuses to kill innocent civilian as that is not what he was trained to do. Frollo angrily interjects that Phoebus was trained to follow orders. Phoebus still refuses to kill the family and even stops Frollo from doing so. Frollo orders Victor and Hugo to arrest Phoebus. Frollo says that he looks forward to the execution date of the treasonous Phoebus. Phoebus manages to break free from his binds and begins running away. Frollo orders the other guards to open fire on Phoebus with their bows. Phoebus is hit by an arrow and falls into the Seine River. Frollo smiles, saying that if the arrow doesn't kill him, the river should. Esmeralda finds Phoebus' unconscious body and takes him to Quasimodo at Notre Dame for refuge. As Esmeralda tends to Phoebus' wounds, Quasimodo can tell that Esmeralda has romantic feelings for Phoebus. Quasimodo is disappointed, but tries to hide it from her.

Judge Frollo begins burning Paris to the ground in his hunt for Esmeralda ("Paris Burning"). Determined to figure out how she escaped the cathedral in the first place, Frollo decides to pay a visit to Quasimodo. When Frollo arrives, Quasimodo once again helps Esmeralda escape the building. Before she leaves, she makes Quasimodo promise to take care of Phoebus. Phoebus is still not awake, so Quasimodo manages to hide him. Frollo share some grapes with Quasimodo. Frollo finally explodes, yelling that he knows Quasimodo helped Esmeralda escape him. Frollo can tell that Quasimodo has feelings for Esmeralda, but explains that she is a gypsy woman that is incapable of love. Before he leaves, Frollo bluffs that he knows where the Court of Miracles is and intends to attack it at dawn. Frollo leaves. Phoebus reveals that he woke up and heard everything they said. He asks Quasimodo to help him finding the Court before Frollo can. Quasimodo agrees to help for Esmeralda's sake and pulls out the map she made him.

Phoebus and Quasimodo make their way to the Court of Miracles where they are captured by Clopin, who accuses them of being spies for the judge ("The Court of Miracles"). Esmeralda steps in and explains who they are, calling them her friends. Phoebus tries to convince the court to move on away from Paris before Judge Frollo and his soldiers arrive at dawn to slaughter them. Everybody starts to pack up. Esmeralda thanks Phoebus for telling them, but he insists that Quasimodo is the one that deserves their thanks. Suddenly, Frollo's army appears and captures everyone. He reveals that he followed Phoebus and Quasimodo to their location. Frollo has everyone locked up. Quasimodo pleads with Frollo, but he refuses to listen. Frollo has his soldiers take Quasimodo back to the bell tower.

Judge Frollo charges Esmeralda with the crime of witchcraft and announces that she must be burned. He gives her one chance to become his lover in exchange for him sparing her life. Esmeralda spits in Frollo's face. Frollo smiles and orders Esmeralda to be burned at the stake. He gets a torch and burns a mound of wheat that Esmeralda is tied above. The smoke causes Esmeralda to pass out. Quasimodo suddenly dives into the fray and rescues her. He carries her back to Notre Dame with Frollo and his guards chasing after them. Once inside, Quasimodo yells "Sanctuary!" Frollo grabs a sword and orders his men to attack the cathedral. Phoebus frees the Romani people that Frollo has arrested and rallies them to stand up to Frollo's tyranny. The Archdeacon tries to stop Frollo from entering the church, but Frollo shoves him aside. Frollo finds Esmeralda and Quasimodo and prepares to stab Esmeralda with his sword. Quasimodo tackles Frollo, disarming him. Frollo, for once, shows fear. Esmeralda wakes up. She and Quasimodo run away from Frollo, but are cornered on a balcony. Frollo attacks Quasimodo and Esmeralda. Quasimodo protects Esmeralda from Frollo, grabbing him. Frollo and Quasimodo both fall from the balcony. Frollo falls first, to his death. Quasimodo falls soon after, but Phoebus manages to break his fall. 

The citizens of Paris and the Romani people all celebrate the end of Judge Frollo's tyranny. Esmeralda and Phoebus finally kiss for the first time ("Someday"). Quasimodo joins the celebration outside. Clopin apologizes for how he treated Quasimodo at the festival and leads the crowd in hailing the young hunchback as a hero.