Triplets of Belville (2003), Sylvain Chomet

This review will be critically analysing animated movie "Triplets of Belville" directed by Sylvain Chomet. It is a very French, silent, but saying a lot animation that is just beutiful and fun to watch. This review is based on Roger Ebert's, Peter Travers and Stephanie Zachrek's reviews.

Figure 1

There is no doubt that you can only compare Sylvain Chomet's works only with his other works. "Triplets of Belville" is so orginal that even one of the best movie critics Roger Ebert says: "There is not even a way I can tell you what the film is "like," because I can't think of another film "like" it." (Chicago Sun Times,December 26, 2003). You can never say too many good words about his work because he does real animation - it contains a story that fits the best the way how it is done and it is cartoony while at the same time it has rules of physics and anatomy that fits the world of certain movie perfectly.

Figure 2

It is enough to see a single scene and in a split second you understand everything about the characters and they just diserve to have the audiences sympathy. Really exaggerated limbs, body builds and muscles just tells the whole story about every person in this movie. Peter Travers says: "Writer-director Sylvain Chomet doesn't need subtitles to tell a story that unfolds in a series of extraordinary images involving a boy, a dog, the Tour de France, the French mafia and jazz-playing triplets." (Rolling Stone reviews, November 3, 2003). Just like in Sylvain Chomet's "Illusionist" (2010) you don't need words to understand the warmth and humour that just flows from this creation.

Figure 3

Some people even tries to relate his work to his life. For example Stephanie Zachrek notices that: "If “The Triplets of Belleville” is any indication, Chomet, who was born in France and has lived in Canada since 1993, is one of the most inventive animators we’ve got." (Salon Reviews, November 26, 2003). If it is actually true the movie gets even more meaning and depth. Even without that you can see many different stories within this one movie: there is a story about a dog, about a grandmother, about a young cyclist, a triplet of jazz singers, a mafia boss and etc. Characters them selves are symbols of people from different society layers.

All in all this movie is must to see for a whole family. Anyone can understand it and have fun. It is a very good example of very comedic and stylised animation. It just keeps astounding the audience in every scene how dramatically a story of many stories can be told and the amount of detail invested into every frame.

Bibliography:

1) Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun Times,December 26, 2003): http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031226/REVIEWS/312260303/1023

2) Peter Travers (Rolling Stone reviews, November 3, 2003): http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-triplets-of-belleville-20031103

3) Stephanie Zachrek (Salon Reviews, November 26, 2003): http://www.salon.com/2003/11/26/triplets/

Illustrations:

1) The Triplet http://girls-can-play.blogspot.co.uk/2004/01/triplets-of-belleville.html

2) The massage scene http://www.hellokids.com/c_21660/videos-for-kids/movies/screenrush-movies/triplets-of-belleville

3) Grandmother's boy http://ayearoffilm.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/246-triplets-of-belleville-2003.html