A Monster in Paris
| A Monster in Paris | |
|---|---|
 French theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Bibo Bergeron |
| Produced by | Luc Besson |
| Screenplay by | Bibo Bergeron Stéphane Kazandjian |
| Starring | Vanessa Paradis Matthieu Chedid |
| Music by | Matthieu Chedid |
| Studio | Bibo Films |
| Distributed by | EuropaCorp Distribution (France) |
| Release date(s) | 12 October 2011 (France)[1]December 29, 2011 (Russia)January 27, 2012 (United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French (original) English (animation) |
| Budget | € 28.22 million |
| Box office | € 14.4 million (4 weeks) |
A Monster in Paris (French: Un monstre à Paris) is a French CGI and 3D animated feature directed by Bibo Bergeron. The film became a critical and commercial success in its native France and internationally as well.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The story begins by documenting the Seine flood of 1910.
Set in Paris. Emile, a shy projectionist, has a passion for film and romantic interests for his collaborator of the cinema, Maud, but has trouble admitting his true feelings. His friend, an exuberant inventor and delivery driver, Raoul, is picking him up from work to transport him in his crafted vehicle, named Catherine, to assist in retrieving a new belt for his projector, due to a mishap with him daydreaming. In the process of purchasing a new belt, he also gets himself a new camera. The story also introduces Lucille (Vanessa Paradis), a childhood friend of Raoul, and cabaret singer at the club L'Oiseau Rare (Bird Of Paradise). As Paris is diverse in the category of the rich and the poor, though she is a successful singer, her Aunt does everything to push her into the arms of Chief of Police, Maynott, a man devoured by pride and ambition of himself.
On a particular evening, Raoul, accompanied by Emile, are making a delivery to the Botanical Gardens. In absence of the Professor who works there, the place is guarded by his assistant, a proboscis monkey named Charles. Appreciating the opportunity to browse through the laboratory, Raoul accidentally triggers a mixture which gives Charles a voice of opera singer and a unstable fertilizer which grows a sunflower in the blink of an eye. Due to the enormity of the plant in small water, it starts to topple towards Raoul and Emile. In the ensuing chaos, a explosion occurs due to the breaking of the chemicals. Everyone comes out unscathed, but Emile is convinced he has glimpsed a monstrous creature which is recorded on camera. A few days later, the creature is featured in the newspapers.
An investigation is made into the whereabouts of the creature by Maynott's second in command, Pate, but is fronted by Maynott, who uses it as a scheme to maintain the fear in Paris and popularise his status as providential candidate for the upcoming elections. At the same time, he tries unsuccessfully to seduce Lucille. Meanwhile, Lucille is trying to find a new musician for her show, and refuses the candidacy of the club’s waiter, Albert. Whilst trying to vacate the club, Albert stumbles across the creature and tries to get back into the tavern with no success and flees terrified. Lucille opens the door and accidentally pushes the creature aside into the alleyway after it becames mesmerized playing with the doorbell. Upon seeing the creature, she flees in a initial state of panic, but later hears the creature sing and discovers it is not dangerous but has a lovely singing voice. She welcomes it in her dressing room, and gives it the name, Francoeur, the name of the street where she was found . The creature is nothing but a flea that the fertilizer, amidst all the other checmicals in laboratory explosion, caused it to grow to a human scale.
During the ongoing investigation, Emile and Raoul's secret of the laboratory incident is blown and they are arrested. Brought before Maynott, Emile and Raoul think they are going to prison, but due to Maynott interests in the creature, they are commended as heroes and are given the Legion of Honor. On a challenge he had been set earlier by Lucille during an altercation, Raoul uses the badge as an advantage to get the best seats at Lucille's show up at the Bird of Paradise club, which she had promised him. After the show, Emile and Raoul come to congratulate Lucy's show, but upon been greeted to the musician, Lucy reveals the identity of Francouer. In the ensuing surprise, Albert overhears the situation and reports it to the police in any act of jealousy. The police arrive at the tavern searching for the creature, but Emile, Raoul and Franc narrowly escape and Albert is framed for lying to the police.
The following day, Maynott opens the Monmartre Funicular, which should serve as the Monmartre for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The trio, along with Francouer and Charles the monkey, decide to use this opportunity as a way of staging the death of the creature. Things do not go according to plan as Maynott discovers the creature hiding under trap door of the stage. Trying to escape, the creature and friends are chased through the streets of Paris involving the use an airship and "Catherine". The chase concludes at the tip of the Eiffel tower. Meanwhile, Maud, who Emile had the courage to make a date for, also travels there. After a battle to protect Franc from Maynott, the meglomaniatic villain is arrested by Pate on the concern that Francouer is innocent and Emile and Maud also fall into the arms of one another. During the confrontation however, the concoction of the Professor chemicals wears off and Francoeur resumes his original size.
Later that evening Lucille is distraught after the "death" of Francoeur. Hesistant to sing her number onstage, Raoul convinces her anyway. Whilst struggling to begin singing, she hears a humming in her ear, which appears to be Francoeur still singing in her hair. Some time later, the Professor who was absent from earlier, returns from his trip and when the three friends explain the situation, he remakes the mixture (which could be a permanent solution to help Franc stay human sized). Francouer continues to sing with Lucille. After an introduction to a childhood memory of Raoul, he and Lucille confess their true feelings to one another.
In a post-credits scene, The trio of friends, Francoeur, Maud with Emile and Lucille's Aunt with Pate riding the airship, scattering super fertalized sunflower seeds to help drain the flooded Seine River.
[edit] Cast
- Vanessa Paradis as Lucille (Both versions)
- Matthieu Chedid (French version)/Sean Lennon (English version, singing voice) as Francœur
- Gad Elmaleh as Raoul (French version)
- Sébastien Desjours as Emile (French version)
- Ludivine Sagnier as Maude (French version)
- François Cluzet as Maynott (French version)
[edit] Reception
The film is currently rated "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 79%.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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