Belleville Rende-vouz

Year: 2003
Running time: 78 minutes
Certificate: 12
Language: French
Screenplay: Sylvain Chomet
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Starring (voices): Monica Viegas, Michèle Caucheteux, Michel Robin, Jean-Claude Donda

Champion, shortly before his run-in with mafia goons.

This is a film with a very distinct style that takes a bit of getting used to, but as the story develops it becomes a cracking little yarn with charming characters and a brilliantly outlandish plot. The look and the sound of it are really unique, and the animation has a beautiful, if unusual, look to it.

Champion is a young boy who lives with his grandma Madame Souza (Monica Viegas). When Champion shows an interest in cycling at a young age, Madame Souza takes it upon herself to become his personal trainer, encouraging him to practice and train with the help of her trusty whistle. As Champion grows up, his interest in cycling becomes all-consuming, with the landscape changing around him, Madame Souza, their dog and their home. The artistry on show used to depict this passing of time is spellbinding and is a splendid way to get us settled in the strangely-drawn world.

The adult Champion (Michel Robin) takes part in the Tour de France, being essentially what his life has been building to. At that moment the story takes a bit of a turn. Champion is abducted by the mafia during the race and forced to cycle constantly for the sake of a betting game run by his kidnappers. It's up to Madame Souza to track down poor Champion, and following the trail to Belleville, she finds the trail dried up and her alone in a strange and frightening city. And here the story takes another turn. The Triplets of Belleville, a famous music act from years ago (we saw them in their prime earlier on in the story), now three elderly women, look after Madame Souza, providing her with a place to stay and a spot on their musical shows, which they are still performing all these years later.

The Belleville triplets: still vital after all these years.

The climactic rescue of Champion by the triplets and Souza and ensuing car chase is superbly realised and is a wonderfully animated set-piece. The story of a man obsessed by cycling being kidnapped by the French mafia and rescued by his grandmother and three elderly sisters is a testament to the resilience and power of women. Champion is who he is because of Madame Souza, and she was only able to rescue Champion with the help of these three old women living on the poverty line. The triplets live life with a sparkle in their eyes, rather than dwelling on their fame-filled past, they are vivid and living very much in the moment. There is a wonderful little moment at the end when Champion, who has been a rather sombre presence throughout most of the film, acknowledges what he owes the women in his life.

Score: 7/10

Belleville Rende-vouz is well-reviewed out there - have a read of this one from Nik at Future Movies and this one from Nick at Screen Daily.