Rent Ernest and Celestine (2012)

Wonderful - Ernest and Celestine review by CP Customer

At one level this is a simply beautiful animation about a mouse and bear becoming friends. At another level it is deep social commentary about the challenge of overcoming divisions and prejudice. As an allegory of racial, religious or ideological intolerance, it's moving and profound, bringing to mind the graphic novel Maus.

If you just want to watch an adventure cartoon, it's that too.

Delightful - Ernest and Celestine review by EJ

Simply animated, but that's not a bad thing. This is a charming piece, with a thoughtful storyline. Glad I watched it.

Enchanting cartoon - Ernest and Celestine review by CP Customer

This is an enchanting French cartoon, with a beautiful orchestral and classical piano soundtrack, which delights on many levels. We first met Ernest and Celestine as a children's novel by contemporary French author Daniel Pennac, without being aware of its origins as a film version of a Belgian picture book series.

I was a little disappointed that there is no option to turn off the English subtitles, or indeed switch to French sub-titles, as one of the reasons that I've joined cinemaparadiso is to support foreign language learning, both my own Spanish and French studies and those of other family members (French, Mandarin, German and Arabic). I would find it helpful to see the audio and subtitles options for the world cinema discs.

If you've enjoyed the film, and you have some French, the novel by Pennac is a delightful read.