The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
Coming Out at June 11, 2003 in theaters.
“Les triplettes de Belleville”
Animation, Comedy, Drama
The Triplets of Belleville is animated comedy film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet. It was released as Belleville Rendez-vous in the United Kingdom. The film is Chomet’s first feature film and was an international co-production among companies in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Canada.
The film features the voices of Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, and Monica Viegas. There is little dialogue; much of the narrative is conveyed through song and pantomime. It tells the story of Madame Souza, an elderly woman who goes on a quest to rescue her grandson Champion, a Tour de France cyclist, who has been kidnapped by the French mafia for gambling purposes and taken to the city of Belleville (an amalgam of New York City, Montreal and Quebec City). She is accompanied by Champion’s loyal but obese hound, Bruno, and joined by the Triplets of Belleville, music hall singers from the 1930s, whom she meets in the city.
The film begins with a flashback showing The Triplets of Belleville: a trio of singers performing on stage in the 1920s (dancing alongside other celebrities including Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt).
The story focuses on Madame Souza, an elderly woman raising her young charge, her grandson, Champion. Souza notices his listlessness that is attributed to hints of his being orphaned. When she notices his (brief) interest in music, she tries to get him to play the piano. When this fails to inspire, she buys him Bruno, a dog. After a time he becomes melancholic once more. She discovers Champion’s keen interest in road bicycle racing (a photo on his wall shows his deceased parents with a cycle), she buys him a tricycle. We see them years later, as Champion the cyclist and Souza, his coach.
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Writer: Sylvain Chomet
Stars: Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, Dirk Denoyelle, Monica Viegas
Cast:
| Jean-Claude Donda | … | Le Géneral de Gaulle / Les commentateurs Sportifs / Le clochard / les Réclames (voice) |
| Dirk Denoyelle | … | Les commentateurs Sportifs / Le clochard (Dutch version) (voice) |
| Monica Viegas | … | Madame Souza (voice) |
| Graziellia de Villa | … | Madame Souza (Englsh version) (voice) |
| Michel Robin | … | ‘Champion’ adulte (voice) |
| Noël Baye | … | ‘Champion’ adulte (English version) (voice) |
| Suzy Falk | … | Triplette (voice) |
| Michèle Caucheteux | … | Triplet #3 (voice) |
| Nicole Shirer | … | Triplette (voice) |
| Germaine Charest | … | Triplette (voice) |
| Helen Wambolt | … | Triplette / Singing voice (voice) |
| Evelyn Snow | … | Triplette / Singing voice (voice) |
| Ron Séguin | … | Triplette / Singing voice (voice) |
| Helga Van Der Heyden | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Jeron Amin Dewulf | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Jef Tips | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Hendrik Van Eycken | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Emmanuel Biront | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Max E. Thijssen | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Karlijn Sileghem | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Anneleen Cooreman | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Patrick Ridremont | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Patrick Bauwens | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Bernard Cogniaux | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Camilia Blereau | … | Additional voice (voice) |
| Béatrice Bonifassi | … | Piaf Singer / Triplets (singing voice) |
| Charles Linton | … | Additional voice (singing voice) |
| Lina Boudreau | … | Triplet #1 (singing voice) |
| Mari-Lou Gauthier | … | Triplet #2 (singing voice) |
| Benoît Charest | … | (singing voice) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia