FILM

— BELLE | mOCKINGBIRD cINEMA, GIBB STREET, DIGBETH, B9 4AA | Rated 12A | SUNDAY 29th SEPTEMBER | 14:00

BELLE

Come, it’s time to live as another you. Come, it’s time to start another life. Come, it’s time to change the world.”

Written and directed by the legendary Mamoru Hosoda (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, Mirai) and produced by Studio Chizu, BELLE takes inspiration from The Beauty and the Beast and updating it to a modern setting. It premiered at the 2021 Cannes Festival where it received a 14 minute standing ovation.

“U” is a popular social media platform where people can create a virtual persona and start a new life with over five billion users. One becomes a viral sensation: Belle, a beautiful singer whose voices capture the hearts of U’s denizens. Meanwhile, rumors spread of a malformed beast within U, known only as “The Dragon.” But is it as evil as the rumours suggest?

Why should you watch Belle?

Words: Sam Edwards

U

High school student Suzu has a quiet, normal life in rural Japan. One of her friends suggests she tries online virtual world U, which generates her a beautiful avatar that Suzu names Belle. Given a new confidence that only online anonymity can provide, Suzu uses her natural talent for singing and songwriting to turn Bell into a pop megastar.

One day, one of her concerts is crashed by an infamous U player known as the Dragon. He is fleeing from a group of virtual vigilantes trying to expose his true identity as punishment for disturbing the peace of the online world. As Suzu learns more about the Dragon, she sees the good in him and the two start to develop a connection…

A 21st Century fable

Director Momoru Hosada (Mirai, Wolf Children) has brought the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast into the 21st century. That story’s conflict between our true identities and the way others see us transposes itself perfectly into the modern world of online personas and avatars. Instead of princesses and castles we have popstars and concerts. Instead of angry mobs we have keyboard warrior commenters.

But this film is so much more than a retelling of a tale as old as time. It weaves in themes that will resonate well with audiences in a post-Covid world, such as the importance of the internet in connecting lonely isolated souls, and the complexity of emotions that come from the loss of a loved one.

Escapism

The animation enhances the sense of escapism online, using traditional techniques for the real world and more modern methods (with help from legendary Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon) to give the world of U an extra sheen and sharpness.

Belle was released in 2021 to great critical acclaim. Its Cannes premiere received a 14 minute standing ovation, and at the time of writing both its critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes are at 95%. So be our guest and join us for this beautiful masterpiece!

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