1848,ParisunderSiege:VictorHugoistornbetweenhisfamily,hismistressesandpoliticalturmoil-nevermindfinallycompletinghisclassicnovelLesMiserables.AlthoughHugoisaconfirmedRoyalist,hesupportstheRepublicandLouisNapoléonBonaparte,whoissoontobecomepresident,convincedthathewillinitiatesocialreforms.ButwhenthenewgovernmentisformedandHugoisoverlookedforoffice,herealizesthathehasbeenused.Furiousatthedeception,heandhissonslaunchadailynewspapertogivethepeopleavoice.Norisitlesschaoticonthehomefront,asheisjugglinghislovelifebetweentwomistressesandhislong-sufferingwifeandmotherofhischildren.WhenNapoléonseizespowerandhissonsarejailedforinsurrection,HugoinsiststhathiswifeanddaughterleaveParis,whereheremains,devotinghimselfwholeheartedlytotheresistance.Openlydenouncingrepression,heisdeclaredEnemyoftheStateandhastofacedisgraceandexile.