May 16 2008
Triplets of Belleville
Poor Champion. His parents have died and left him an orphan in the care of his loving grandma, Madam Souza. Sad Champion finds no pleasure in life anymore. Grandma tries to interest him in playing piano. No go. She gives him a train set. No joy. She gives him a puppy, but even the rambunctious Bruno cannot cheer Champion. Is there nothing that will lift pudgy little Champion’s spirits? Then Grandma discovers a secret scrapbook hidden under the little boy’s bed, a scrapbook stuffed thick with cut-outs of bicycles. Ah hah! Grandma gives Champion a tricycle, and suddenly her forlorn grandson discovers joy! Thus begins an adventure that takes Champion all the way to the Tour de France, with Grandma blowing her whistle in encouragement every mile along the way. But the journey is fraught with hazards. When Champion is kidnapped by mobsters, Grandma and the lovable, blundering Bruno are determined to rescue him. They find unlikely allies in a trio of old women, the Triplets of Belleville or, in the original French, Les Triplettes de Belleville.
Poignant, funny, touching, exciting, and with great jazz, The Triplets of Bellleville is a delightfully entertaining animated movie for all ages. And if you love dogs, you’ll love Bruno — along with the remarkably determined Grandma, he steals the show. Screenshots of Grandma, Champion, and Bruno are from the English language version of The Triplets of Belleville and are owned by their copyright owner.
