Anyone who claims that all animation is the same or should not be grouped with live-action films since it is an inferior art form only need to watch Sylvain Chomet’s trippy, hilarious, and visionary The Triplets of Belleville before they take back their words. At just over 80 minutes, the only way to describe how this film pulls off its dialogue-free approach is to say it is one of the most imaginative films of the early 2000s. As the films of Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) are beginning to reach mainstream audiences, this film will hopefully receive the attention and respect it deserves, as it can be enjoyed by people of all ages, including those who normally dismiss animated films.
The visual style of the film has an appropriately nostalgic tone to it, beginning with a black and white, bubbly opening sequence and into the colourful, comically animated scenes that follow. The story is about a boy named Champion whose overprotective but sweet grandmother wants only for him to find something that he loves and put every ounce of effort into being the very best at it he possibly can. After attempting to catch his interest in several activities, she only manages to get a smile on his face when she buys him a tricycle. The film then moves into the near future when Champion is a professional cyclist who trains with his grandmother all day, every day. When Champion is kidnapped by the French mafia and forced to race in an underground room where people bet on the winner, his grandmother and faithful dog Bruno come to his rescue.
The film’s title refers to triplet musicians who appear in the movie’s opening sequence, and then who are brought by Champion’s grandmother, Souva, on her journey to rescue her son. Along the way, there are a number of wacky and creative characters and the town of Belleville has so many hilarious details embedded into its ornate design that there are often several things to keep you laughing simultaneously. As funny, original, and entertaining as the film is, a dark drama floats just beneath the surface, one that is heightened by its nostalgic, sometimes melancholic tone. The relationship between Champion and his grandmother suggests an incredibly strong bond, but through his expressionless face, it is obvious that Champion has been driven too hard, to the point where he has become something less than human. Other cyclists who have been kidnapped express fear and exhaustion, but Champion peddles away, accepting his new fate because cycling is the only thing he knows how to do. It is likely that he misses his grandmother, but he is simply resigned to wait for rescue. Along with the triplets, who have long since lost their beauty and charm, though not their talent, Souva and Bruno end their journey with an emotionally charged and surprisingly poignant ending that redeems these lost souls and gives the audience an inspirational feeling of hope.
One of the most entertaining and original films of 2003, The Triplets of Belleville is a must-see for anyone looking for a great film outside of the recent mainstream releases.
As funny, original, and entertaining as the film is, a dark drama floats just beneath the surface that is heightened by its nostalgic, sometimes melancholic tone.- Derek Smith
