Ernest & Celestine (2012)

Directed by: Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner | 80 minutes | animation, family | Original voice cast: Lambert Wilson, Pauline Brunner, Anne-Marie Loop, Dominique Maurin

Imagine a world where bears live above ground in an environment similar to ours and mice underground, in a sewer system reminiscent of that of ‘Flushed Away’. Never should these two population groups meet. That is the world of ‘Ernest & Celestine’. Despite the need to keep these parallel worlds separate, cubs are told that when they lose a tooth, they should hide it under their pillows, so that a tooth mouse will retrieve it at night in exchange for a coin. The mice do indeed sneak in at night to collect all the bear teeth, because small bear teeth are perfect substitutes for the teeth of adult mice. The little mouse Celestine – like her fellow orphan mice – has been scared of the big, angry bear from an early age, but she doesn’t really believe it. In her dream world, which she makes a little reality through her beautiful drawings, a bear and a mouse are close friends. But the other mice think that’s weird. Célestine is an outsider, because she doesn’t want to be a dentist at all, as is expected of her.

Ernest is also quite a loner. He’s just such a big, and at first we think angry, bear as Celestine has always been warned about. But he’s just hungry. During his quest for food, he suddenly encounters Celestine. But before he can eat her, she begs him to let her live, because “such a little mouse won’t satisfy your hunger, will it?” Celestine points him to a candy store full of goodies, because Ernest seems to be fond of marshmallows, candy canes and lollipops. The ways of the two separate. But not for long… Eventually the little mouse and the big grumbler see the benefits of their friendship. They can help each other and recognize a lot of themselves in each other. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is not yet convinced.

The story of two opposites who manage to make friends against all odds and prejudices is heartwarming and told with speed and humor. Except for a few somewhat anxious moments, ‘Ernest & Celestine’ is certainly suitable for the youngest viewers.

‘Ernest & Celestine’ was created by the team that previously produced ‘Panic in the village’ (Vincent Patar and Stéphane Aubier) and the young director Benjamin Renner, who made an international impression with his graduation project ‘La queue de la souris’. The characters are based on the world famous picture books by Gabrielle Vincent (1929-2000), released in the Netherlands as “Brammert & Tissie”. The picture books contain little text, but the drawings, executed in watercolor and in soft tones, are so richly filled that they contain a whole library of stories. The makers have chosen not to adapt one of the books of the Belgian illustrator/writer, but had Daniel Pennac write a kind of prequel, in which the two protagonists get to know each other and as exiles have to flee from and compete against the rest of the world. Do you still feel like more adventures of the big bear and the little mouse after this film? Vincent’s books – which unfortunately you can only get second-hand at the moment – ​​fit in seamlessly with this cartoon.

‘Ernest & Celestine’ was created with great respect and love for Vincent’s legacy. The animations have the same brownish, warm tones and often seem just as simple, but at the same time rich in details. With minimal lines, great emotions are conjured up on the screen. This film underlines once again that 3D is not by definition more visually appealing. ‘Ernest & Celestine’ is a feast for the eyes, and certainly not just for children.