Computers have brought innumerable wonders to the animation movie genre, but every so often it’s nice to see a hand-drawn, traditionally animated film like the “Spirited Away” or “Triplets of Belville.” The delicately water colored French Belgian animated film “Ernest & Celestine” (2013) is one of those charming little story, without a blasting 3D or excessive CG. The young directors Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner have based their story on a long-running children book series, illustrated by Belgian author Gabrielle Vincent. The film tells a tale of unlikely friendship between a bear and a mouse.
Celestine is a young orphan mouse, who draws a crude
childlike sketch of a bear and even dreams of befriending a bear. However, the
whole mouse community uses a variety of scare tactics to avoid having any
contacts with the bears. The mice lives underground, in the sewers and their
economy is driven by bear teeth. Above ground, the bears tell stories to their
children about how the mice are disease-ridden devourers. Like Celestine, Ernest is the outcast of bear
community. He is a bumbling and lonely bear, who is fined by police for
performing in the streets.
Celestine, on one of her beer teeth collecting trip breaks
into the house of George – a candy store owner, and his wife Lucienne – runs a
teeth replacement store. Ernest comes across Celestine and first tries to
gobble her up, but the mouse gives him an idea to break into the candy store. Later,
the mouse helps Ernest to escape from the police. In return, the bear helps
Celestine to steal the tooth from Lucienne’s story. But, when the bear steps
into the sewers, carrying the tooth, the whole mouse community panics and
outcasts the mouse girl. Similarly, Ernest is hunted by the bears for his
run-ins with the law. These two, despite its different size and backgrounds,
develop a relationship that's part father-daughter, part mentor-protege.
With its fearlessness and funny banter, Celestine is the
most memorable character. Her character rises to the point that she dwarfs
large sized characters. The film shows communities driven by fierce
wealth-procuring schemes: a little bear whose father and mother own a candy
store and tooth store – one business cause the teeth to fall out and the other
provides replacement; the underground mice world has ruthless economic codes,
often employing terror tactics. The both characters’ rejection of this normalcy
remains as a main cause for this unconventional friendship. The directors have
provided many memorable images, including the oppressive walls of the orphanage
tower, mouse village, and the colorful display of spring season.
The message in “Ernest and Celestine” is simple and
sweet-natured. It is surprisingly subdued and gives the kind of experience,
which you’ll want to pass along. Like “Toy Story”, it will be loved by adults
as much as children.
The vocal cast for the English-language version includes
heavy-hitters like Forest Whitaker, Lauren Bacall, Paul Giamatti, and William
H. Macy.
Trailer
1 comment:
Seems to be a nice one. I am sure my son will like this !
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