Ernest & Celestine

Nominated for a 2014 Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Academy Award, this delightful story from directors Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between a grumpy bear named Ernest and a tiny mouse named Celestine. It’s based on a series of books by Gabrielle Vincent, and its true weirdness is a fantastic reminder of how children’s imaginations are far more fertile than we give them credit for. A friendship between a bear and a mouse is almost ‘normal’ compared to the subplot of why the mice need to steal the bears’ teeth in the first place. This is that rare kind of film that is so enchanting to look at that you could happily watch it with the sound off and still be entertained by the story. Of course if you did that, then you’d miss the excellent voice work of the likes of Forest Whitaker, Paul Giamatti, William H. Macy and the legendary Lauren Bacall.