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Someone's Seen LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE!!

Published at:  Jun 13, 2003 9:22:55 AM CDT

Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...



Harry’s been freakin’ out about this one for over a year now, and the little bits I’ve seen are very cool. But this guy’s seen the whole thing! Grrrrrr...



Hi Harry, Vinz, from Paris, here.

I know how much you're interested in the highly anticipated LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE, and I as just saw it this afternoon I thought I should tell you about it !

Let me tell you this straight, you probably have never seen such a film ! I don't know where to start, there is so much to say about it...

I'll start with the story.

It's very original from the beginning, since LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE is set in a very realistic 60's era, but still in places that doesn't exist. At the basis, "Belleville" is a district of Paris, in the East of the City. But here, Belleville is what New York would look like if it was a French city. There's a Statue of Liberty, but french flags are everywhere in the City, everyone talks french, drives french cars, sings french music...

Ok, the story :

The main character is a little grandma who raised her grandson as if he was her son. His parents are certainly dead. He's about 8 or 9 years old, and seems always bored. His grandma don't know what to do to distract him. She buys him a wonderful dog (one of the best character of the film, this dog) who loves to bark at trains. But the boy is stille bored. She tries to initiate him to piano, but he's not interested.

But one day, she discovers he's a big fan of (how do you say?) "cycling". So she buys him a bike, and the boy finally finds interest in life. During years, she's gonna train him to be the greatest racing cyclist.

All this part is set in the late 40's, in the french country.

We find them back a few years after. he's now a grown up, and is set to participate to the "Tour de France", the biggest racing cyclism event in Europe. Now begins the craziness of LES TRIPLETTES DE BELEVILLE after this wonderful first part.

During the "Tour de France", the boy and 2 other cyclists are kidnapped by the Mafia of Belleville, and taken there. The loving grandma don't want to lose her boy, so she and Bruno the dog go after the Mafia to get him back.

I don't want to spoil too many, so I'll be quick for the rest: arrived in this "Newyorkesque" Belleville, ruled by the Mafia, the grandma will meet the famous Triplettes de Belleville, 3 famous old music-hall stars very original (understand: a bit crazy). They will help the grandma get her boy back. If you wanna know more about the story ask me, but I prefer not to spoil too much in case you don't wanna know everything.

Here's the story. Pretty good, don't you think?

Now the story is very well helped by the esthetic of the film. Basically during all the film, it's a quite traditionnal animation, since Sylvain Chomet, the director, comes from comic books. But there's a scene on the ocean, during a storm, using advanced techniques, very impressive. The traditionnal aspect, plus the 60's era, gives a nostalgic look to the film, very charming.

Another thing that makes LES TRIPLETTES very original is that there is almost no dialogue. And when I say almost no dialogue, I mean maybe 6 or 7 lines of dialogue in the whole film! It's more musical, and the music used is excellent, especially the song heard during the end credits, by french singer "M".

So you will have understood how great LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE is. And I didn't mention it, but it's so funny too!

I hope you will sonn get a chance to see it over there, it's worth it! If you wanna more, or have specific questions, don't hesitate!

Sounds like a fairly original vision, and anytime there’s an animated film that succeeds outside the simple Disney formula, I’m fascinated. I hope we see it here soon, too, man. Thanks for writing.



"Moriarty" out.









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    Readers Talkback

  • Jun 13, 2003 9:43:19 AM CDT

    "triplettes" vs. "Interstella"

    by no-no

    I saw "les triplettes de Belleville" at Cannes last month and it's very original, stunning bla, bla, bla... It's very retro and you have to like "Amelie" style to like that one (you know: retro-french-40's-cute). Personally, I don't. Retro for me is the 80's and "Interstella 5555" was the right animation for me...

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  • Jun 13, 2003 9:57:11 AM CDT

    Can't wait. Euro retro is cool. Plus a film about cycling!

    by alpha dodger

    Watched the trailer many times. Seems like an original vision and not something packaged to attract a kiddie audience. Wish there were more "mature" animated films.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jun 13, 2003 7:12:21 PM CDT

    Viva France!

    by beamish13

    I love that country. The people, in general, were a hell of a lot nicer than most of the people I encountered in Belgium.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jun 13, 2003 7:45:37 PM CDT

    There is a statue of liberty in BELLEVILLE you fucking idiot!

    by atricide

    There is a statue of liberty in BELLEVILLE! The French made one there before they built one in New York as a present to the United States, you god-damn moron. Now your review lacks all credibility. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT - A MADE UP FRENCH DISTRICT - IT'S A REAL PLACE, CUNT RAG. Brush up on your history you fucking idiot - I hope you choke on a croissant and fucking die!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jun 13, 2003 9:22:41 PM CDT

    Trailers

    by tbrosz

    I've seen some new trailers at the official site -- http://www.lestriplettesdebelleville.com/ -- but none are as good as the original one Harry pointed us to a while back -- http://www.celluloid-dreams.com/belleville/belleville_vid.htm -- This one is a film in its own right. Hope it shows up on DVD in the U.S. eventually.

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  • Jun 16, 2003 1:23:02 PM CDT

    Did you even read my critic Atricide ????

    by vinz

    1. I did'nt say Belleville is a fake district, I know it's not I LIVE in Paris dude. I said it's an imaginary CITY because in the film it's not a dsitrcit it's a whole CITY.

    2. I know there's a Statue of liberty in Paris, because (2nd time) I live in Paris. Execpt it's not In Belleville, but in the West of the city, on the Seine (the river crossing Paris), so I don't need any lesson of French history. I know the Statue in New York was a gift from my country to your country.
    Well I won't make you any present if you're so rude !!!

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