Film Review -The Triplets of Belleville

Figure 1. The Triplets of Belleville

"The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) is a 2003 French animated film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet. It follows the story of elderly lady, Madame Souza who is out to rescue her grandson Champion, a Cyclist that was kidnapped during the Tour de France by the French Mafia. This animation follows through bizarre situations, exaggerated characters as well as stylised animation.

Figure 2.

The animated style the movie uses definitely doesn't aim to function as a real world in terms of it's structure and characters, over the top expressions and ships the size of a skyscraper, personifying characteristics; it all compliments well together, its different and fresh "Most animated features have an almost grotesque desire to be loved. This one doesn't seem to care. It creates a world of selfishness, cruelty, corruption and futility -- but it's not serious about this world and it doesn't want to attack it or improve upon it. It simply wants to sweep us up in its dark comic vision." (Ebert, 2003) as Ebert describes, it doesn't aim to please with it's function and style but it remains to be unpredictable and over the top bizarre.

Figure 3.

The characters within the animation change in size and shapes and move with their personality, some even representing certain animals such as the mechanic who resembles mice like qualities. Other characters like the mafia gang literally fit together like a building block and hunch over their leaders like a riot shield; the waiter within the restaurant who stretches and slinks his way around the restaurant in order to please his customers, these small selection of characters it almost unsettling as Ebert describes "The movie's drawing style is haunting in a comic way" (Ebert, 2003).

Figure 4.

This movie doesn't stir away from stereotypes in appearance, an obvious guess would be Belleville and the residents within it, a possible depiction of america at the time, Scott further comments "a Manhattan-like dream city populated by obese hamburger eaters, cretinous Boy Scouts, and a diminutive red-nosed French mafia chieftain." (Scott, 2003) Although it's not Manhattan exactly but the aesthetic of the lifestyle and exaggerated appearances of the residents makes that hint.

Overall, the story seems to communicate well with audiences without any dialogue, visually you're able to understand the situations despite how exaggerated and bizarre they may seem. It is something differen for a change, French himself claims "It is a pleasant change from, or antidote to, the current wave of bland, airbrushed, computer-generated animated movies from the States." (French, 2003) I'ts traditional 2D animation is a breath of fresh air compared to the up-rise of CG films of it's time.

Bibliography:

Ebert, R - The Triplets of Belleville Online At: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-triplets-of-belleville-2003 [Accessed: 27/02/19]

French, P - Wacky races Online At: https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,1032657,00.html [Accessed: 27/02/19]

Scott, O -
FILM REVIEW; Nostalgia For a Land That Twirls In Dreams Online At: https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/26/movies/film-review-nostalgia-for-a-land-that-twirls-in-dreams.html [Accessed: 27/02/19]

Illustrations:

Figure 1. - The Tripelts of Belleville (2003) - Sylvain Chomet [Movie Poster]

Figure 2. - The Tripelts of Belleville (2003) - Sylvain Chomet [Movie Still]

Figure 3. - The Tripelts of Belleville (2003) - Sylvain Chomet [Movie Still]

Figure 4. - The Tripelts of Belleville (2003) - Sylvain Chomet [Movie Still]