The Old Lady and the Pigeons
Encyclopedia
The Old Lady and the Pigeons is a 1997 French animated short film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet
. It tells the story of a hungry policeman who dresses up as a pigeon and tricks an old lady to feed him. It was Chomet's debut film. It won several awards including the Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival
.
Eventually the policeman discovers the lady's other pet: a woman dressed up as a cat, also spoiled with food. As it turns out, the lady had the whole time been fattening the pigeon only to feed it to the cat as a treat. The policeman has grown too fat to be able to remove his fake pigeon head. The lady tries to slaughter him with a pair of scissors, but he narrowly succeeds in escaping. In the final scene the policeman is skinny again and without his pigeon suit, and is seen behaving like a pigeon in front of the Eiffel Tower
.
had been based in London and worked as an animator in advertisement since the 1980s. As he returned to his native France in 1990, he decided to make his own first film, having been inspired by watching Nick Park
's Creature Comforts
. Chomet pitched The Old Lady and the Pigeons to Didier Brunner, producer at Les Amateurs, with whom he begun to work on the film in 1991. The producers had difficulties raising enough money, but decided to start anyway, with some money from the National Center of Cinematography. The backgrounds were designed by Nicolas de Crécy, who had studied with Chomet and previously collaborated on comics projects. The team produced the film's first four minutes at the Folimage
studios in Bourg-lès-Valence
. They then attempted to use the finished footage to attract more investors, but failed. In 1993 Chomet relocated to Canada in hope of a fresh start; however, Brunner suddenly managed to pre-sell the film to the BBC
and several other broadcasters, and production could continue. Five years after production started the film was completed.
. On 27 May 1998 it was released theatrically in France through Les Grands Films Classiques. It was screened together with the animated short film Bob's Birthday
, directed by Alison Snowden
and David Fine. Bernard Génin reviewed The Old Lady and the Pigeons for Télérama
and called Chomet's directing "brilliant". He also complimented Crécy's background art, and wrote: "Paris streets, cozy interiors, characters' puffy faces – each shot is a beauty! Yes, the traditional, handmade cartoon can still surprise us."
and Canadian Genie Award for Best Animated Short
. It was nominated for best animated short at France's 1998 César Awards
, and the United States' Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 70th Academy Awards
.
Sylvain Chomet
Sylvain Chomet is a French comic writer, animator and film director.- Early career :Born in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, near Paris, he studied art at high-school until he graduated in 1982. Chomet moved to London in 1988 to work as an animator at the Richard Purdum studio...
. It tells the story of a hungry policeman who dresses up as a pigeon and tricks an old lady to feed him. It was Chomet's debut film. It won several awards including the Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Annecy International Animated Film Festival
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring every two years, the festival became annual in 1998...
.
Plot
A starving Parisian policeman discovers an old lady who feeds pigeons in a park. He comes up with the idea to build a pigeon suit for himself. He figures out where the lady lives and when the suit is finished he puts it on and visits her. She buys his bluff, and the policeman in his pigeon suit begins to make regular visits to the lady's apartment, where she spoils him with food. As time passes the policeman grows fatter and fatter.Eventually the policeman discovers the lady's other pet: a woman dressed up as a cat, also spoiled with food. As it turns out, the lady had the whole time been fattening the pigeon only to feed it to the cat as a treat. The policeman has grown too fat to be able to remove his fake pigeon head. The lady tries to slaughter him with a pair of scissors, but he narrowly succeeds in escaping. In the final scene the policeman is skinny again and without his pigeon suit, and is seen behaving like a pigeon in front of the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
.
Production
Sylvain ChometSylvain Chomet
Sylvain Chomet is a French comic writer, animator and film director.- Early career :Born in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, near Paris, he studied art at high-school until he graduated in 1982. Chomet moved to London in 1988 to work as an animator at the Richard Purdum studio...
had been based in London and worked as an animator in advertisement since the 1980s. As he returned to his native France in 1990, he decided to make his own first film, having been inspired by watching Nick Park
Nick Park
Nicholas Wulstan "Nick" Park, CBE is an English filmmaker of stop motion animation best known as the creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep....
's Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts was originally a 1989 British humorous animated short film about how animals feel about living in a zoo, featuring the voices of the British public "spoken" by the animals. It was created by Nick Park and Aardman Animations...
. Chomet pitched The Old Lady and the Pigeons to Didier Brunner, producer at Les Amateurs, with whom he begun to work on the film in 1991. The producers had difficulties raising enough money, but decided to start anyway, with some money from the National Center of Cinematography. The backgrounds were designed by Nicolas de Crécy, who had studied with Chomet and previously collaborated on comics projects. The team produced the film's first four minutes at the Folimage
Folimage
Folimage is a French animation studio, based in Bourg-lès-Valence, Drôme, France. The studio produce animation films for cinema and TV . The company has created an animation school, La Poudrière, also in Valence...
studios in Bourg-lès-Valence
Bourg-lès-Valence
Bourg-lès-Valence is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
. They then attempted to use the finished footage to attract more investors, but failed. In 1993 Chomet relocated to Canada in hope of a fresh start; however, Brunner suddenly managed to pre-sell the film to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and several other broadcasters, and production could continue. Five years after production started the film was completed.
Reception
The film competed at the 1997 Annecy International Animated Film FestivalAnnecy International Animated Film Festival
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring every two years, the festival became annual in 1998...
. On 27 May 1998 it was released theatrically in France through Les Grands Films Classiques. It was screened together with the animated short film Bob's Birthday
Bob's Birthday
Bob's Birthday is a 1993 animated short by Alison Snowden and David Fine, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 67th Academy Awards. The 12 minute 18 second film features a humorous look a wife's plans to throw a surprise birthday party for her husband on his 40th...
, directed by Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden Alison Snowden Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in [[Nottingham 4 April 1958) is a voice actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for [[Bob and Margaret]].- Life and work :...
and David Fine. Bernard Génin reviewed The Old Lady and the Pigeons for Télérama
Télérama
Télérama is a weekly French magazine owned by Le Monde S.A. Its primary contents are television and radio listings, though the magazine also prints film, theatre, music and book reviews, as well as cover stories and feature articles of cultural interest. The name is a contraction of its earlier...
and called Chomet's directing "brilliant". He also complimented Crécy's background art, and wrote: "Paris streets, cozy interiors, characters' puffy faces – each shot is a beauty! Yes, the traditional, handmade cartoon can still surprise us."
Accolades
The film won the Grand Prix for best short film at the Annecy Festival. It went on to win the British BAFTA AwardBritish Academy Film Awards
The British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . It is the British counterpart of the Oscars. As of 2008, it has taken place in the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square...
and Canadian Genie Award for Best Animated Short
Genie Award for Best Animated Short
The Genie Award for Best Animated Short is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian animated short film.-7th Genie Awards:* Michael Scott, Richard Condie, The Big Snit* Ishu Patel, Paradise/Paradis...
. It was nominated for best animated short at France's 1998 César Awards
César Awards 1998
The 1998 César Awards were hosted by Juliette Binoche. The winners and nominees were:*Best Film:On connaît la chanson, directed by Alain ResnaisLe Bossu, directed by Philippe de BrocaThe Fifth Element, directed by Luc BessonMarius et Jeannette , directed by Robert GuédiguianWestern, directed by...
, and the United States' Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 70th Academy Awards
70th Academy Awards
The 70th Academy Awards were noted for their high ratings and the 11 wins obtained by the Best Picture Titanic. Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the sixth time, and received an Emmy award for his performance....
.
| Event | Award | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 70th Academy Awards 70th Academy Awards The 70th Academy Awards were noted for their high ratings and the 11 wins obtained by the Best Picture Titanic. Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the sixth time, and received an Emmy award for his performance.... |
Best Animated Short Film | Nominated |
| 1999 Algarve International Film Festival | Grand Prize of the City of Portimão | Nominated |
| 1998 Angers European First Film Festival | Audience Award, Short Film | Won |
| European Jury Award, Short Film | Won | |
| 1997 Annecy International Animated Film Festival Annecy International Animated Film Festival The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring every two years, the festival became annual in 1998... |
Grand Prix, Best Animated Short | Won |
| 50th British Academy Film Awards 50th British Academy Film Awards The 50th BAFTA Film Awards, given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts on 29 April 1997, honoured the best films of 1996.Anthony Minghella's The English Patient won the award for Best Film. Secrets & Lies won the "Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film"... |
Best Animated Short Film | Won |
| 1997 Cartoon Forum | Cartoon d'or Cartoon d'or The Cartoon d’Or is the pan-European award for animation short films. It rewards every year the best one since only prize-winning films from Cartoon’s partner festivals can compete.... |
Won |
| César Awards 1998 César Awards 1998 The 1998 César Awards were hosted by Juliette Binoche. The winners and nominees were:*Best Film:On connaît la chanson, directed by Alain ResnaisLe Bossu, directed by Philippe de BrocaThe Fifth Element, directed by Luc BessonMarius et Jeannette , directed by Robert GuédiguianWestern, directed by... |
Best Short Film, animation | Nominated |
| 18th Genie Awards 18th Genie Awards -Best Picture:*The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan and Camelia Frieberg, producers*Cosmos, Roger Frappier, producer*The Hanging Garden, Thom Fitzgerald and Louise Garfield, producers*Karmina, Nicole Robert, producer... |
Best Animated Short Genie Award for Best Animated Short The Genie Award for Best Animated Short is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian animated short film.-7th Genie Awards:* Michael Scott, Richard Condie, The Big Snit* Ishu Patel, Paradise/Paradis... |
Won |
| 1998 Hiroshima International Animation Festival Hiroshima International Animation Festival The International Animation Festival Hiroshima is a biannual animation festival hosted in Hiroshima, Japan.The festival was found in 1985 by Association International du Film d'Animation or ASIFA as International Animation Festival for the World Peace... |
Grand Prize | Won |
| 1997 World Animation Celebration | Grand Prize | Won |