Sunday, March 8, 2009

A Good Dose of Laughs


You've probably noticed I've had The Triplets of Belleville on my
Netflix queue this past week. Well, I finally watched it and just had
to share it with you. Now, I'm not a huge fan of most of the recent
animated films, but this one you've got to see. It's brilliant and
hilarious!

Yes, it's in French, but there are only a few spoken sentences in the
entire film. Most of the soundtrack is a mixture of squeeks and barks
and the great jazzy music if Benoit Charest. In a nutshell, set in the
late 1950's, it's the story of a bicyclist who is kidnapped from the
Tour de France by mysterious gangsters. His grandmother, Madame
Souza, a onetime nightclub singer, travels to the city of Belleville, a
quirky version of New York, and tracks him down with the help of an
aging has been musical trio, the Belleville Triplets.

This animation is definitely made for adults. It's intelligent, dark,
surreal and incredibly funny. And with the state of things right now,
who couldn't do with a good dose of laughs? Do yourself a favor and
put this atistic little treasure on your Netflix queue. It is tres cool!!

32 comments:

  1. Hehe,good one ,no?My friend introduce me to it 2years ago,it is realy mustsee,thanks for sharing.

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  2. I bought the DVD some years ago but am yet to watch it! You have now convinced me.

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  3. it's hillarious! i saw it a few years ago, it was shown in movie theaters here in budapest. definitely not for kids :)

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  4. If it's French Week for you, try King of Hearts. It's a French film with English subtitles (thank God) circa....1980's? or 70's?

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  5. If this is on DVD( hopefully region 0 )I'm looking for it! I'll start with the library :)Thanks for sharing this Willow...I feel better already :)

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  6. It is wonderful, but I think my favourite parts are actually in the first sequences of the boys youth and the actual training for the Tour de France. The Grandmère is brilliantly conceived, non?

    Kat

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  7. A good one. I took my son to see it exactly 5 years ago for his
    10th birthday

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  8. Thank you the critique. I'll look for it in the library tomorrow.

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  9. Oooh, good call (as they say here, don't know if they do where you are). I love French, and I enjoy animation, so I shall be seeking that out - thank you!

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  10. Hello Willow,

    You know I'm not a film buff but I'm astonished by the number of films that you review that I've never heard of!! Animation is something I do like, I just have to come to terms with the soundtrack!

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  11. My dear Willow, you are such a tonic for me. I would never have heard of that film and now I am so excited to order it. Thanks for another fun excursion

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  12. Blessed as I am with younger folks (not sure if it is still politically correct to call them teenagers) around me, I had the vergnügen already. I second your recommendation: do yourself a favor and watch the movie! :-)

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  13. The music alone is captivating!!!! Thanks for the recommendation!

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  14. Exactly what I've been waiting for, your recommendation does it..going to Netflix now..thanks!

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  15. This is a fantastic movie. I saw it for the first time in high school. Glad you are recommending it because it is a movie everyone should see.

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  16. I'll certainly add it to my netflix - laughs are greatly appreciated these days. I love the photo of your kitchen window and the spring daffodil(?) sprouts.

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  17. I don't know why but anything animated usually has me running for cover. But I watched Ratatoille the other day and loved it - and after seeing this preview I think I will try this one as well. And Merisi liked it too...so with that said...!!!
    Catherine

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  18. This film was the best ever! Love how they gathered their frog dinners...Best little film! I even made a triplettes of B doll after seeing this. The music is also a favorite tract. The best!

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  19. Wonderful...!

    Didn't this film win an Oscar? Or at least a nomination? I think so.

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  20. I love this film. Is like going into a new and fascdinating universe.

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  21. I loved the French film Amelie, so I think this looks like something I would enjoy too! Lovely music as well!

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  22. Looks fabulous! I'll put it in my que today.

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  23. Thank you Willow,The video jogged my memory...I now remember wanting to see it and never got around to it. I've put it on my list and will see it for sure!

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  24. Oh, I LOVED this movie. I saw it on your queue and wondered what you'd think of it--so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Isn't it creative? I had that music in my mind for ages after seeing it and caught myself humming it a lot.

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  25. Among the many reasons I am often jealous of Americans is their access to Netflix.

    Due to copyright laws its not available here in Canada.

    Grrrrrrrrrrr.

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  26. A spectacular, hand-drawn, 2D animated story packed with so many elements.

    And then there's that wonderful dog. 8^)

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  27. While looking for a movie for my kids yesterday I came across the triplets of belleville. After hearing all the comments about it I just had to get it out. The guy behind the counter wanted to point out that this was in french, as if that would be some type of problem. I watched it with my hubbie. He kept falling asleep but I loved it. Cant wait to watch it again. I will be reading your reviews with keen interest.

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  28. I remember this film from the Academy awards, maybe a year ago? I wanted to see it but forgot all about it. I've got to see this sometime!

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  29. We loved this so much I got it for Husband's birthday 2 yrs ago ...

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  30. Its a French film, but interesting that the little poster that you posted is......in German!

    There are some FANTASTIC German flicks out there by the way, one of the best is "The lives of others", and another is "Nowhere in Africa." Both these films, btw, won the oscar for best foreign film.

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  31. Beth, "The Lives of Others" is excellent, in fact, I need to see it again. I'm not familiar with the second one you've mentioned, so I'm adding it to my list. Thank you!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)