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Writer: Sylvain
Chomet
Director: Sylvain
Chomet
Feature length: 81
minutes
Extras:
Featurettes, Select Scene Commentaries, Music Video, Theatrical Trailer
Languages: English
and Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: English
Captions and Closed Captions
Packaging: Keep
Case
Chapter Stops: 28
Sound: Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical
Release: 2003/DVD Release: 2004
Theatrical
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Home Video
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewer: Mark A.
Rivera
Sylvain Chomet’s
“The Triplets Of Belleville” is by far one of the most entertaining animated
films I have seen in quite a long time. The film is simply a wonder to behold
because it is a mix of traditional animation along with a bit of CGI melded
together in a way where it often is indistinguishable from the cell animation.
When it becomes pronounced the CGI adds to the action and humor that never
detracts from the story, but rather enhances it. The artistry of the characters
is exaggerated to good effect calling to mind the work of early animators from
the 1930s. At times the characters can appear a bit too grotesque, but there is
a charm and sardonic wit to the entire presentation that keeps one glued to the
screen from beginning to end.
Adopted by his
grandmother, Madam Souza, Champion is a little lonely boy whose only outlet
appears to come when he cycles around on a tricycle. Seeing potential in her
grandson, Madame Souza puts him through a rigorous training process and years
later Champion enters the world-famous cycling race, the Tour de France. However
during the race Champion is kidnapped by square shouldered henchmen of a mob
boss in the architectural nightmare that is the wondrous bustling city of
Belleville somewhere across the sea. Madam Souza and her faithful dog Bruno set
out to rescue him in Belleville where they encounter three eccentric female
music-hall Divas from the 30’s that are known as the “Triplets of
Belleville.” They take Madam Souza under their wing and assist her and Bruno
with rescuing her grandson.
Columbia TriStar
Home Entertainment’s DVD edition of “The Triplets Of Belleville” presents
the feature in an anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) aspect ratio that preserves the
manner in which the film was exhibited theatrically. The picture quality is
superb with no deficiencies to note at all. The English Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtrack is equally impressive because sound is extremely important
in this film since there is little to no spoken dialogue. A Spanish Language
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed Captions
for the hearing impaired are encoded onto the DVD as options.
There are three
scene specific audio commentaries in French with English Language Subtitles for
the “Opening Sequence” (1:27), “Restaurant Performance” (2:38), and
“Tuning The Wheel” (2:55). Next is a featurette on the making of the movie
(15:52) with interviews with Writer and Director Sylvain Chomet and the various
artists from varying disciplines that helped to make this act of love come to
life. An interview with Chomet on his philosophy of animating complete with some
pencil sketch examples is included too (5:23). The music video for the Academy
Award®-nominated song “Belleville Rendez-Vous” (3:26), a soundtrack spot (:
51), and the theatrical trailer (2:16), which features a full 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack wrap up the extra value materials included on this DVD.
“The Triplets Of
Belleville” is both surreal and sublime and an easy DVD to recommend for
anyone regardless if they are connoisseurs of animation or simply curious and it
can be purchased now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Columbia TriStar
Home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004
By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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