My liquid countdown to The Oscars continues with this Best Picture Nominee and Drink Pairing for Les Miséables. Check out my other Oscars drink pairings by clicking here. And enter my giveaway for a $50 giftcard from Macy’s (so you can buy some new glassware to show off these fancy drinks!) down at the bottom of this post.

I went to see Les Misérables expecting to enjoy the film and expecting to come away with a brilliant idea for a movie-drink pairing to share with you. I did not expect the experience that I had instead.

As soon as the movie began I was transported to another world. Not 19th century France. Well, I was transported there of course.

But I was mostly transported to my own teen world.

Within moments the familiar songs filled my heart and I remembered listening and re-listening to the soundtrack, on my own and with my best girlfriends. I remember sitting beside them at the back of the second balcony to see the show live. Not once but at least three times. Oh how we looked forward to those shows.

And oh how we cried throughout!

I was amazed that I still remember every word of every song (and in case you don’t know it, the entire film/show is sung so this means I know the entire script by heart!). And I was amazed at how emotional I felt about the film itself and about the memories it stirred up.

But the thing I loved the most about Les Mis this time was how I experienced it differently now than I did when I was younger.

As a kid, for me Les Mis was all about unrequited love. Eponine singing in the moonlight. Brave Marius. And rain will make the flowers grow. *sigh* *cry*.

This time, I did feel sad and I did cry for Eponine. But I really went overboard in the emotions for the poor boys who died fighting. And for the boy who lost his friends.

And for Fantine’s story.

When I was younger this storyline hadn’t resonated much. There was a little girl without her mother. The mom was sad. But if anything I thought more about Cosette and her loss than that of her mother’s.

This time it was all about the mom. And I sobbed and I sobbed.

Now maybe all of this is due to the brilliance of the cast (Anne Hathaway is definitely part of it). But it’s more likely due to the place I am in my own life, to the fact that I am now a mother to a little girl whom I love and cherish and hate to imagine being apart from, let alone leaving forever. And mother to a little boy who I love to imagine growing into a young man, love to imagine his friends, his successes, his struggles and his loves.

The story was the same, the words that I new by heart were the same but what affected me when and how was different. What a fantastic experience!

And now I know that I can look ahead 20 or 30 years to when I’ll be sobbing over the tragedies of Jean Valjean.

Now, onto The Oscars Best Picture Nominee drink-pairing.

Before going to the film I thought I’d be able to come up with a nice little French cocktail or maybe something with sparkling wine to celebrate the marriage scene. But every time I pulled my thoughts away from the tears and wondered about a possible drink, all I could think of was wine.

In fact, I’ve concluded that there is nothing but red wine that can go with Les Mis. Nothing.

So, if you’re rooting for Les Misérables as the winner for The Oscars Best Picture this year, I say pour yourself a big glass of red and get cozy to sip and watch while cheering on this beautiful film.

There is no recipe to go with this drink today. Duh. Pour and sip. But don’t forget to head down below and fill out the rafflecopter for your chance to win a $50 gift card from Macy’s.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now tell me, is there a film or story that you loved when you were younger that resonates with you differently today? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.