Why Audiences Love The Triplets of Belleville
Sylvain Chomet’s 2003 film, The Triplets of Belleville, continues to amaze audiences with its unique animation style, award-winning score, and experimental approach to narrative. The film remains a highly praised animated cult classic, with a production spanning France, Belgium, Canada, and the U.K. The Triplets of Belleville will be screened alongside a live orchestra performance of the score in the Jack Singer Concert Hall to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.
When mobsters kidnap her cyclist grandson Champion during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her dog, Bruno, embark on a journey to the American metropolis of Belleville to rescue him. Upon reaching the city, Madame Souza enlists the help of an elderly trio of once-vaudeville performers, the Triplets of Belleville.
With the film’s impressive near dialogue-less storytelling and its unique expressionist art style, The Triplets of Belleville references and draws upon the films and cartoons of the silent and early-sound eras. Those invested in cycling may also spot cultural commentaries on the Tour de France and notice satirizations of its prominent figures.
While the film illustrates a bleak world crushed by urbanization and financial disparity, The Triplets of Belleville emphasizes the power music has to be an uplifting force in an otherwise seemingly hopeless time. Whether it's the grand opening piece “Belleville Rendezvous,” a powerful recitation of Mozart during a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic, or a playful song performed with household appliances, Benoit Charest’s brilliant score carries the film’s most emotional beats.
The Triplets of Belleville was met with critical acclaim upon its release. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Animated Picture and Best Original Song for “Belleville Rendezvous.” It also won the BBC Four World Cinema Award, the Canadian Genie Award for Best Picture, and the French César Award for Best Film Music.
Arts Commons is celebrating The Triplets of Belleville’s 20th anniversary with a screening of the film accompanied by an eight-piece orchestra playing the film’s score live, conducted by the score’s original composer Benoit Charest. The performance takes place on November 2nd and is part of our World Stage series wherein Arts Commons hosts a variety of acts from across the globe. Get your tickets here for this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
