BELLE AND SEBASTIEN 3, LE DERNIERE CHAPITRE/ BELLE AND SEBASTIEN, FRIENDS FOR LIFE

France, 2017, 97 minutes, Colour.
Felix Bossuet, Tcheky Karyo, Clovis Cornillac, Thierry Neuvic, Margo Chatelier, Andre Penvern, Anne Benoit.
Directed by Clovis Cornillac.

The Belle and Sebastien books have been very popular in France for many decades, an earlier film version made in 1981. They are based on a series by French actress, Cecile Aubry. She also wrote the lyrics for the songs throughout the film.

Followers of French films will have seen the first two films in this trilogy. In 2013, the first was released, focusing on the experience of the young boy, Sebastien, at the age of six, living in the snowclad Alps, experience in World War II and German occupation and the rescue of French flyers. The role of Sebastian was played by a very young Felix Bossuet who continued in the role in the two subsequent films. His quite an engaging screen presence. Actually, so is Belle, the beautiful, white powerful dog that he befriends.

The second film, Belle and Sebastien, The Adventure Continues was released in 2015. The action moves forward to the end of World War II and Sebastien, again with Belle, anticipating the return of his friend, Angelina, from her flying action during the war.

While this third film does open with Sebastien’s birth, difficult situation in the stormy mountains, his mother dying, the wayfaring shepherd, Cesar (Tcheky Karyo in all three films) rescues the boy and brings him up, a grandfather-figure.

There is some deadpan comedy from Andre Penvern as the Mayor.

This time, Sebastien is 12. Belle has had a litter of pups. Sebastian goes to school but would prefer to be out in the mountains and his ambition is to become a shepherd like his grandfather. However, Angelina is about to marry Sebastien’s father and the boy overhears their plans that they will move to Canada, taking the boy with him. He decides to run away – especially since a very sinister figure arrives, claiming that Belle is his dog and that he will take her and the pups.

The director of the film, actor Clovis Cornillac, portrays this sinister figure, black coat, black shirt, black trousers, black beard, black hat and hair, glowering eyes, towering presence, a frightening figure for children. (It is obvious that the Cornillac is enjoying his role as actor.).

This means that there is quite some tension at the end, the dangers of the confrontation, the risks in testing the villain.

While the film can stand on its own, sufficient explanation is given in the screenplay, it will be more pleasing for those audiences who have seen the previous two films.

1. The popularity of the books? Film versions? This series? For a French audience? International?

2. The Alpine scenery, the mountains, the snow, good weather, the storms, the sheep and the dogs? The home, school, the village? The buildup to the confrontation with the villain? Sebastien and his hiding in the hut on the mountains, his being caught and pursued? The musical score and songs?

3. The prologue, the mother in the snow, the hut, giving birth, Cesar helping her, her death, Cesar taking the boy?

4. Years later, Sebastien growing up with Cesar, his aunt, his father, the household, going to school, his friends, wanting to be a shepherd?

5. Belle, the pups, Sebastien and his bond with Belle? The fate of the pups?

6. His aunt, love and care for Sebastien, her getting married, the wedding ceremony? Sebastien under the table, hearing about the plans for Canada? Cesar agreeing? Sebastien being upset, confronting Cesar, saying that he wanted to be a shepherd like him, not wanting to go to Canada? His decision to run away, with Belle? In the hut?

7. Cesar, a simple man, care for Sebastien, wanting him to have opportunities for travel and education?

8. The villain, Joseph, literally all in black? His vehicle? Claiming the dogs were his? His menacing Sebastien in the hut? His pursuit? His reputation during the war, on the side of the Germans, his being disliked by people in the village?

9. The encounter with Madeleine, her telling the story, her owning Belle’s mother, the reunion between the mother and Belle? The role of the pups?

10. The mayor and comedy, driving slowly, playing the delaying card game?

11. The tactics to deceive Joseph, his violent response, the fight with Sebastien and pursuing him? The role of Cesar and Madeleine?

12. The solution, Joseph going out on the snow in pursuit of Belle, the breaking of the ice, Joseph and his death? Belle going into the water, Sebastien’s grief, her emerging?

13. Sebastien being persuaded that it was best to go to Canada, going to the airport, the farewell?

14. The end of the trilogy about Sebastien and Belle in the mountains?