The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters--an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire--to rescue him.

Director:

Sylvain Chomet

Writer:

Sylvain Chomet

Stars:

Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Donda	...	Le Géneral de Gaulle / Les commentateurs Sportifs / Le clochard / les Réclames (voice)
Dirk Denoyelle	...	Les commentateurs Sportifs / Le clochard (Dutch version) (voice)
Monica Viegas	...	Madame Souza (voice)
Graziellia de Villa	...	Madame Souza (Englsh version) (voice)
Michel Robin	...	'Champion' adulte (voice)
Noël Baye	...	'Champion' adulte (English version) (voice)
Suzy Falk	...	Triplette (voice)
Michèle Caucheteux	...	Triplet #3 (voice)
Nicole Shirer	...	Triplette (voice)
Germaine Charest	...	Triplette (voice)
Helen Wambolt	...	Triplette / Singing voice (voice)
Evelyn Snow	...	Triplette / Singing voice (voice)
Ron Séguin	...	Triplette / Singing voice (voice)
Helga Van Der Heyden	...	Additional voice (voice) (as Helga Van der Heyden)
Jeron Amin Dewulf	...	Additional voice (voice) (as Jeron Dewulf)

Storyline

Madame Souza, an elderly woman, instills in her grandson Champion (for who she acts as his guardian) a love of cycling. As a young man, he does become a dedicated road racer with his grandmother as his trainer. During a mountainous leg of the Tour de France in which Champion is racing, he goes missing. Evidence points to him being kidnapped. Indeed, he and two of his competitors were kidnapped, the kidnappers who want to use the threesome's unique skills for nefarious purposes. With Champion's overweight and faithful pet dog Bruno at her side, Madame Souza goes looking for Champion. Their trek takes them overseas to the town of Belleville. Without any money, Madame Souza and Bruno are befriended and taken in by three eccentric elderly women, who were once the renowned jazz singing group The Triplets of Belleville. The triplets help Madame Souza and Bruno try to locate and rescue Champion.

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Plot Keywords:

tour de france | mafia | dog | very little dialogue | belleville | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for images involving sensuality, violence and crude humor

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Russia]

Country:

France Belgium Canada UK Latvia USA

Language:

French Portuguese English

Release Date:

13 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Triplets of Belleville

Box Office

Budget:

$9,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$572,207 (France), 20 June 2003

Opening Weekend USA:

$143,762, 30 November 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,002,255, 4 July 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Armateurs, Production Champion, Vivi Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Visible in their apartment are pictures of the Triplets with some period stars including Charles Chaplin, there's also a picture of the Triplets on the beach with Olive Oyl.

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Goofs

In the betting scene we see the bet master with 3 cards in his right hand (they go in the order: 2-1-3). After cyclist #2 is shot we see the bet master again with the same 3 cards in the same order.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Madame Souza: Is that it, then? Is it over, do you think? What have you got to say to Grandma?

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Crazy Credits

After the credits have rolled we see the Pedalo rent guy waiting on the beach, looking out to sea and checking his wrist watch.

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Connections

References The Old Lady and the Pigeons (1997)

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Soundtracks

Mass in C minor, K427: Kyrie
(ca. 1782)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Diana Montague, English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir
Conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

User Reviews

Brilliant

From the moment I pressed play on the DVD remote, the whole family was transfixed by this wonderful movie. It was so good, that we immediately watched it again. So what was so good about it? Well, firstly Bruno has to be the best dog (either animated or live) in any movie. The subtle observation of its daily routines are among my favourite scenes. Second, the humour is refreshingly dark and constantly surprising (it's not too far removed from Gary Larson's The Far Side). The scene showing the expansion of Paris to convey the passing of time had us in hysterics. Thirdly, it's just so imaginative. Everything is exaggerated beyond belief. If you like your animation to have a touch of realism, then stay away. In Belleville, things are grotesquely exaggerated. I've noticed a few negative comments about this film, which raises the question of who is going to like it and who isn't. I guess the fairest comment I can make is to say that this probably isn't mainstream stuff. If your favourite movies are summer blockbusters, then maybe this isn't for you. If, on the other hand, you like discovering quiet gems from time to time, stumbling across something a little different on a cable channel, then this could be just what you're looking for.