There is so much emphasis these days on computer animated films that
I think we sometimes forget that the old school 2D animation is just
as legitimate an art form and still has a lot to offer the film
medium. The problem is that these days, it's just not as marketable
as it used to be. Pixar and Dreamworks changed the game last decade
and the masses just weren't coming out to see 2D films, at least not
the extend that they were coming to see their 3D animated
counterparts. So, this leaves traditional animation a chance to take
it to the fringe. The Triplets of Belleville was a
co-production between a number of film companies in France, Belgium,
the United Kingdom and Canada, making it an achievement on an
international level, though writer and director Sylvain Chomet is
French.
It follows Madame
Souza, an old lady who is raising her grandson Champion. She can't
help but notice that the young Champion is unhappy, so she tries to
cheer him up by buying him a puppy named Bruno. Champion goes on
being depressed, but finally Souza finds out his passion. He loves
bikes. So, she buys him one and right away he is overjoyed. Fast
forward to a number of years later and Champion is now a professional
cyclist and Souza is his coach. He enters the Tour de France and
during the competition, Champion and two other cyclists are taken
away by a two mysterious men in suits and are taken to America. Souza
hasn't given up though. She and Bruno are tracking them down and will
bring him back home again.
The Triplets of
Belleville is so bizarre a film that I really didn't enjoy it at
first. Something about the whole art style and tone of the film is
so out of the ordinary that it's a bit off putting. But I went in
having no idea what to expect. But what started off as discomfort
soon became a charmed admiration for the bold, artistic storytelling
that this film provided. It just took a brief period of adjustment.
The look of the movie
is so unusual; the character designs are exaggerated to the point of
hilarity and there is a strange twist to the laws of physics that
wouldn't work outside of an animated world. But the events of the
film itself are outlandish enough that not only does it warrant such
a strange visual style, but I would say that the two are vital to one
another. It's clear that Sylvain Chomet had a bizarre vision and took
the needed time to flesh it out.
Another thing that
makes this movie unique is that it's almost a silent movie. It has a
full array of sound effects and a music score, but the dialogue is
pretty sparse. There are a few select moments with talking, but for
the most part they tell the story visually which adds to the strange
tone established by the action. The lack of dialogue actually really
adds to the affect of the film overall. It allows the audience to
focus on the art and enjoy all of the expression that shines through
it. I think every so often we need to be reminded that film is a
visual medium and often we equate good and bad writing by the quality
of the dialogue. That can be a good indicator, but I think we forget
that creating the story is part of the writing process and to write a
script devoid of dialogue is a monumental challenge. Similarly,
translating that script into a visual medium, the director's job, can
be very challenging also. Never mind the fact that it's animated. I
have no idea how to direct animation. Wasn't my field, but I'd love
to try one day.
The characters are
strange and quirky, but in such a way that it's almost realistic.
It's a strange balance they have. You see some of their quirks and
it's so strange that you can't believe it's true, but when you think
about it more, it is just strange enough that it could just be an
exaggerated truth. Perhaps Chomet did know an old lady or two who
captured frogs to eat? I bet he knew a dog who barked at every
single train that ran by its house. It's very compelling to see truth
in such a strange fairy tale. Even if everything is fabricated, it
is still a story told with such confidence and conviction that you
accept what you see. As I did, I really started to have a lot of fun
with it.
The more this movie
sits with me, the more my enthusiasm for it grows. It's a refreshing
change of pace from the normal animated fare that goes through
cinemas these days. It's a chance to see a unique and twisted vision
from an artist who clearly cares about his work and isn't afraid to
have fun. The Triplets of Belleville got a fair bit of
recognition from critics when it came out and also was nominated for
an Oscar, but lost to Finding Nemo. So it goes. It certainly
goes to show that there is still room in this world for 2D animation
and as long as there are creative minds like this behind the pencils,
I will gladly support it.
5 Stars
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