Les 3 inventeurs (1980) User Reviews

lovely

[Kirpianuscus · 11 January 2019]

Two basic virtues - the flavors of XVIII century and the lace animation. Two motifs for admire it - the spirit of inventors and the fine, bitter humor. And, sure, the memories about Turkish shadow theater and the delicacy of art of lace , familiar for many viewers from East. So, a lovely short animation. In its case, maybe, the absence of story is not a real sin . Because its delicate - fascinationg beauty could be the lead support for a profound seductive work.

Unique Animation

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 8 July 2019]

Whether or not the story was a great one, the visual portrayal of the era described was so interesting. The film is entirely made from lace images. The motion is made by turning wheels of lace and doing other things to create conflict. The story of the three inventors is a sort of fantasy and it comes off quite well.

a short animation movie that is also a little parable

[myriamlenys · 9/10 · 7 February 2019]

It's a short movie so I'll try and keep this review short. "The 3 inventors" is a delightfully beautiful little creation, very reminiscent of the frivolous and airy rococo style seen just before the outbreak of the French Revolution. However, do not allow yourself to be deceived by its airy grace and elegant playfulness : this little parable, and especially its ending, hides a ferocious kick. It's somewhat like opening a box of Belgian chocolates and finding a severed finger, or attending a superb opera performance and watching tiny droplets of blood drip down from the ceiling.

The darkness of the ending is not gratuitous. Instead, it points at a deep truth about human nature : in life, it does not do to exceed your peers in intelligence, imagination or insight.

Graceful, witty, original and more than a little sobering.

Beautiful, but mostly empty

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 27 July 2016]

"Les 3 inventeurs" or "The Three Inventors" is a French 13-minute short film from 1980, so this little animated movie had its 35th anniversary last year. It was written and directed by Michel Ocelot and he won a BAFTA Film Award for this movie back then, probably the biggest success of his career. I will admit that the white-lace animation style is pretty beautiful in terms of the buildings, but it's not working so well in terms of the people. I saw that this film was mentioned in a Lotte Reiniger documentary a while ago and I think it fits there nicely. If Reiniger had lived half a century later, then this film may have been exactly what her style would have looked like. I just hope her story-telling would have been better as this area is where this movie is not good at all and what ultimately brings it down too in my perception. It's definitely a but of style over substance. Animation is important, but a good plot and interesting story counts even more. This one does not have it. Thumbs down.