I’m going to France this Christmas with Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. I won’t need my passport, I don’t have to worry about what to pack and there won’t be any fun and games with the TSA.

However, I do need a ticket, a movie ticket to see Les Misérables. Hugh Jackman stars as Jean Valjean, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Russell Crowe as Javert and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette in the world’s longest running musical that opens on the big screen in theaters everywhere on Christmas Day.

The stage presentation of Les Misérables, has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe. Currently in its 27th year, its still breaking box-office records everywhere.

The film, directed by The King’s Speech’s Academy Award^®-winning director, Tom Hooper has been adapted from Victor Hugo’s epic tale. Set in 19^th-century France, Les Misérables tells a captivating story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. The tale illustrates the survival of the human spirit. Jackman is ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

In Hooper’s presentation, they’re approaching the film differently than a traditional musical on film. The actors were filmed singing live so they could capture the spontaneity of the moment. The pianist plays live into earpieces worn by the actors which gives them the freedom to perform with emotion as they embrace the scene.

Seyfried describes it as so much more powerful and she loves the freedom it provides. Crowe says singing live creates an emotional level that couldn’t be achieved in a studio.

The movie includes the beloved songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own”all performed live to create the cinematic musical experience of a lifetime. Hooper’s groundbreaking approach attempts to capture the spirit of Hugo “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent”  Victor Hugo, Les Misérables.

Fight. Dream. Hope. Love. Les Misérables opens in theaters everywhere on Christmas Day. You can stay up to date with Les Miserables on Facebook, join the chatter on Twitter @LesMiserables with #LesMis or find them on Pinterest.