Ernest & Celestine
Composite Score: 85.53
Starring: Lambert Wilson/Forest Whitaker, Pauline Brunner/Mackenzie Foy, Anne-Marie Loop/Lauren Bacall, Patrice Melennec/Nick Offerman, Brigitte Virtudes/Megan Mullally, Pierre Baton/Paul Giamatti, and Féodor Atkine/Jeffrey Wright
Directors: Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, and Benjamin Renner
Writer: Daniel Pennac
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Family, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG for some scary moments
Box Office: $8.17 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Ernest & Celestine is the animated film adaptation of the works of Gabrielle Vincent about the titular bear and mouse who become friends despite societal norms against such interactions. The film follows the orphaned mouse Celestine who lives in the mouse city in the sewers under the bears’ city and works during the evenings gathering teeth in secret from the bears to be used by the mouse dentists as replacements for the broken teeth of working mice. At the same time, Ernest the bear lives some ways outside the city, travelling in to panhandle as a street musician and beg for his food. Their pursuit of less than venerable (in the eyes of their respective societies) hobbies/jobs eventually brings them into contact, resulting in an unlikely friendship that shakes the foundations of their two societies and the presuppositions that inform them. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, being celebrated for its simple animation style and its universal story of friendship and breaking down societal barriers.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I really can’t fathom why someone wouldn’t enjoy Ernest & Celestine unless they were one of those people who just cannot bring themselves to connect with animated/non-human characters. While I have trouble understanding that mindset, I do recognize that everyone’s sense of wonder behaves differently, and if you’re one of those for whom animation rarely resonates, I don’t think that this film will suddenly kick-start that. It leans deeply into its sense of whimsy and animation and coziness in a way that definitely won’t be familiar even to fans of the medium, so for a newcomer/outsider to engage with it would probably be a difficult accomplishment.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Obviously, the whimsy, wonder, and coziness of Ernest & Celestine go a long way in making this film stand out as one of the better animated films of the twenty-first century, but for me, the story about overcoming prejudices and fighting for friendship is what makes it a truly great film. That other stuff is packaging for the story that makes its message easily accessible to audiences of all ages, and without it, the film probably isn’t as good. Nonetheless, I found myself deeply compelled by the story of outcasts finding each other, forging a found family of sorts, encouraging each other’s passions and talents, and ultimately, fighting in court for one another and showing their respective societies that their acceptance of one another has resulted in an erasure of preexisting misconceptions and prejudices. For as simple a film as it is, its message is one that is so important – it is a reminder that everyone within society is connected to everyone else, and that society benefits most when those connections are nurtured and celebrated rather than being pushed to the background or stifled. People need connection for authenticity and to feel accepted, and limiting human interaction only serves to stunt that sense of community. It’s a profound truth that this family film delivers.
While its animation and style would make for a great film on their own, Ernest & Celestine’s message of overcoming prejudices in order to forge bonds of friendship that lead to the cultivation of one another’s strengths makes it a film worthy of all-time great status. Its story might not resonate as easily or equally with every audience, but those who enjoy the genre are sure to love this one. You can currently stream this film with ads on Tubi or rent it on most other streaming platforms, and I highly recommend seeking it out.
