The Triplets of Belleville film & Inspiration

Recently, I stumbled across the soundtrack of this film on Spotify. Though I have seen, ‘The Triplets of Belleville‘ before, it has been a number of years since I have seen it previously. In watching, I was reminded of the beauty of the film directed by, Sylvian Chomet and the luscious soundtrack by, Benoit Chaest. In watching the gorgeous, yet eery animation, I could not help but engage myself.

Quick Synopsis and Description

The animated film, set in France, follows a mother who is devoted to helping her son’s career in cycling. As the story takes them to the Tour De France, the French mafia becomes involved and kidnaps the son. Through the assistance of the triplets of Belleville, a musical trio of elderly women, the son is safely recovered from the French mafia and live happily ever after.

Throughout the storyline, the film is littered with gorgeous exhibitions of animation matched with a stupendously unique soundtrack. One scene that stuck out to me, in particular, shows the mother and the triplets coming together through song. They construct their music through unique objects like a bicycle wheel or a newspaper. Being a sound artist, this appealed to me because of the authentic way they constructed their song on the spot. I am able to learn that even professional composers for soundtracks find a way to not only make unique sounds in a simplistic way but a way that is perfectly applicable to the film as well.

Referencing

The Triplets of Belleville (2003) [Online] Directed by Sylvian Chomet France: Les Armateures [Viewed 2 November 2019] Available from iTunes

Felita B Crusha (2010) the triplets of Belleville [Online] [Viewed 3 November 2019] Avalible at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmoWUdzHISM&t=49s