The Triplets of Belleville
Composite Score: 86.83
Starring: Jean-Claude Donda, Monica Viegas, Michel Robin, Michèle Caucheteux, Lina Boudreau, and Mari-Lou Gauthier
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Writer: Sylvain Chomet
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Music, Sport
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for images involving sensuality, violence, and crude humor
Box Office: $14.78 million worldwide
My take on Watching This Film:
The Triplets of Belleville is Sylvain Chomet’s Academy Award-nominated animated film about a grandmother who seeks to rescue her grandson after he is kidnapped by the French mafia while riding in the Tour de France. It’s notable for its unique animation style that blends 1920s/30s art styles with surrealist and hyper-realistic touches, setting the film apart from other animated films of its era as something even more specifically for an adult audience than some. The plot moves along at a fairly predictable but still pleasing pace, but the film lacks much in terms of actual substance, relying more on visual gags and music tracks to create a sense of otherness within the film, offering a vague critique of capitalism, sports gambling, and Hollywood as it does so. Were it a bit more substantial in its story, there’s a chance that it could have won the Oscar that year over Finding Nemo, but nuance and reference keep all of its most interesting facets on the sidelines while an underutilized protagonist takes center stage. On one hand, it’s refreshing to get a film that focuses so heavily on women of a certain age, even celebrating them, but its animation flair makes even that choice feel more like an overt statement than an authentically genuine choice. Artistically, The Triplets of Belleville is certainly a triumph with plenty of unique art and pleasing audio callbacks to bygone eras to be deserving of its spot among the greats. At the same time, its story lacks any serious weight to make it worth watching for every audience, so your mileage with this film will certainly vary. Currently you can rent this film on Amazon or Apple TV if you’d like to check it out for yourself in the near future.
