The Triplets of Belleville  JAN 04 2004  

This is a wonderfully stylish, inventive film. If you're unaccustomed to movies lacking a strong narrative that drags the viewer through the film, you may want to skip it (the theatre was packed, but several people walked out before the end).

Part of the film deal with the Tour de France, which writer/director Sylvain Chomet talks about in this BBC interview:

I've always liked the movement of cycling. It's the circular motion of the bicycle, and the shape of the cyclists themselves - especially back in the days when they'd be incredibly spindly with amazingly overdeveloped leg muscles. They're fascinating characters: very nice, timid and shy people. But they often don't look like they're enjoying the race. I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist looking happy, even when they've won. I've also always thought it was strange that the Tour De France starts and ends at the same point. It's like they're suffering all this hardship, but not actually getting anywhere as a result.

For more info on the film, you can watch the trailer, read an interview with Chomet in Animation World Magazine, or read AnimWatch's interview with the film's art director, Evgeni Tomov.