Review of Ernest & Celestine (2012) by Sarfaraz A — 20 Jan 2014

Ernest & Celestine (Ernest et Célestine) French-Belgian pencil animation film written by Daniel Pennac and directed by trio Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. Voiceover, Lambert Wilson as Ernest and Pauline Brunner as Celestine. It is based on late author Gabrielle Vincent's children's art-book (who never wanted her books to be made into movies). It was released in the United States by GKIDS. Ernest & Celestine was screened at Cannes Film Festival in the section of Director's Fortnight - as well as TIFF Kids program at the Toronto International Film Festival. It has received Oscar nomination for Best Animation Film; other nominations include Belgian Film Critics Association, Cannes Film Festival (won Prix SACD Director's Fortnight - Special Mention) and it also won Best Animation at César Awards. Film was made on the budget of 9 million euros.

Film begins in world of mice living under the sewer, where they have got police force, courts, boats to sail as well as so-called dentist hospital, the owner of which, sends his mice to world above (occupied by bears). These mice suffer occasional tooth decay at some stage of their lives, in order to replace decayed-teeth and continue nibbling. The chief dentist of the dentistry forces little mice to fetch him as many teeth as possible.

Celestine a tiny mouse sets off to world above in the dark hours of the night to steal bear-teeth. Ernest a lonely bear who lives in his hut in the woods, visits the town in search of foods. He finds Celestine in trash-bin (sleeping) and starts to eat her, when she scars him of multiple diseases she might carry. She hints him about candy-store to extinguish her hunger - and in return she asks him biggest favor in the world, that of helping her steal teeth.

French novelist Daniel Pennac was asked to make sweet of the book, about these two lovely characters (Ernest & Celestine). Director Brunner was said to have been fresh pass-out of the university to be assigned to this magnanimous assignment, realizing the burden he was to carry ahead - he made a request of inclusion of assistance, hence Belgian producer of the film recommended him names of Patar and Aubier. All three concluded the final work within prescribed time-frame of one month maximal.

Brunner has also mentioned in his interview that about 50-60 people worked on its production, other 30 animators were joined by 10 assistant-animators. Brunner had following to say, regarding competition the film faces at upcoming award-session; "We have very, very little chance, but we believe in the film and the capacity of the film to seduce the academy - And of course, we will attend the Oscar ceremony with the heart beating very strongly".

The American distributor GKIDS, who worked heavily for marketing the film, in doing so they persuaded actors William H. Macey, Paul Giamatti and Forest Whitaker as well as legendary Lauren Bacall to borrow their voice for the English version of Ernest & Celestine, to be released in the States, in March 2014 after the Oscar-ceremony.

The message is as that simple, friendship that begins to mount the trust and sincerity. The mice who are told fearful stories about grizzly bears who despise mice, similarly bears have grown phobia about rats - in all this debacle the events in which these mouse and bear forge friendship, is worth the view. the The actual priceless moment comes, when Celestine appears before court run by bears and Ernest in court run by mice - there is these two speeches made separately by Ernest and Celestine before the honorable courts; Celestine defending actions of Ernest and Ernest defending actions of Celestine, simultaneously.

Here is, charming in its simplistic yet rich creative storytelling. Vivid watercolor-backgrounds decorate its constructiveness and picturesque quality to be equally enjoyable for the kids and adults alike. It gets hilarious (not because it wants to but due to narration binds itself). Intelligent flawless art-work, in which each aspect is given tremendous attention. Powerfully whimsical storyboard which I have seen after quite a long-time. Astounding achievement, given the facts that work of pencil-work, could enliven work of late author.