This extraordinary dialogue-less French cartoon was released around the world in 2003 to great acclaim. It won numerous awards and made it to several publications' year-end lists of best films. It is only now being shown at The Arts House, even though the DVD has been available in stores for a long time now.
Whether or not you've seen it, The Triplets of Belleville is a unique and delightful treat you should savour again and again. The cast of eccentric characters, the wacky plot and the quirky humour simply get better with repeated viewings.
The wildly inventive storyline follows the fate of a Tour de France racer who is kidnapped by hoodlums and forced to race at an underground betting arena. His club-footed grandmother is determined to rescue him, even if she has to cross the Atlantic in a paddle-boat all by herself. Helping her in her rescue mission are the triplets of Belleville, a singing trio that was once popular but has now faded from the limelight.
Charming, absurd and believable all at once, The Triplets of Belleville and director Sylvain Chomet will make you realise that the folks at Pixar (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille) don't have a monopoly on good cartoons after all. You will be impressed by the fact that Sylvain uses humour techniques that are different from those used by American cartoons, yet still managed to make Triplets as refreshingly entertaining as the best of them.
Don't miss the best movie of the week screening at the Arts House.
The Triplets of Belleville
Original Title: Les Triplettes de Belleville
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Language: French with English subtitles
Starring: (Voice)Batrice Bonifassi, Lina Boudreau, Michle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Mari-Lou Gauthier, Charles Linton
Awards: Jury Special Prize, Copenhagen International Film Festival Best Motion Picture, Genie Awards Best Film, Lumiere Awards Best Film and Best Composer, toiles d'Or Best Foreign-Language Film, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Animated Film and Best Canadian Film, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Golden Satellite Award Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media, Satellite Awards Best Animated Film, New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film, San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Feature, Seattle Film Critics Awards Best Animation and Best Music Score, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievment in Choreography - Feature Film, American Choreography Awards Best Music, Csar Awards Best Music, Golden Trailer Awards Best Sound Editing, Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award
Release: 2007-10-16