Why You Must Watch La Belle et la Bete

Bonjour Belle!

Ahh oui, every one of you is Belle – a French word which meant “beautiful” and not just physically but as a whole being.

And speaking of Belle, I know that most of you (including moi) are very excited for the opening of the newest movie adaptation of Beauty and the Beast in your nearest favourite theatre, well here in Manila it will be tomorrow, March 16! YEY!


And I could imagine that exciting feeling! Alas, a movie adaptation is here!

Calm down! Am not giving you the spoiler of Emma Watson’s twirling moments (no matter how much I wanted to).

But wait… did you know that there is a French movie adaptation of Beauty and the Beast?

Yes Mademoiselle…

The newest movie might be a similar adaptation from the animation that we’ve grown up, but if you are true fan of this enchanting story, and you crave for something thrilling - you might want to watch the French version.




We all know that in our old storybook, Belle is an only child and daughter of Maurice – the genius inventor from a small village in France. And Belle is an adventurous gal who prefers to read books as her accompany, than have a chit- chat with her neighbors, or fantasize muscular guys like the selfish narcissistic Gaston.

But here is it different…

NO BOOKS FOR BELLE!

Huh??!!! Then who is Belle without her books?

Well, she is still that French girl, but not your typical village girl. She grew up as a rich mademoiselle.





Belle is the youngest of the three daughters of Maurice (I think the other two daughters are like twins?), living in a posh life in France together with her other three brothers. Her father is nor a genius inventor – but a well-known merchant and owns three voyage ships: “The Mermaid”, “The Triton” and the biggest “The Leviathan”. It carrying all the goods and treasures that they’ve got from its voyage.

However, a disastrous storm washed away the voyage ships, which leads them to poverty – losing all their most prized possessions and their posh lifestyle in the city. In order to survive, they need to lay low in a village far away.



But Belle doesn’t care about any of those possessions – her sole most prized possession is her family.
She might be born a rich French girl, but she is not a brat. Of all her siblings, she’s the one who have easily adjusted her new provincial life, while her sisters and brothers are continued whining about their situation.


Even his father is eager to get their life back! When news arrived that one of their voyage ship was found, her father when to the city to claim it back, but unfortunately because of greed of others – her father lost it again. Her brother Maxime, run away upon learning that they will never claim the ship, leaving his father alone in the wild snowy forest looking for him.


I think that his big brother is such a jerk and a huge brat. If I have a brother like that I might slam him, hahahaha.

Belle’s father was lost into the snowy woods with his horse, trying his best to reach home in spite of the heavy blizzard. Until such time he found an abandoned castle in the middle of nowhere.




The grotesque castle is quite mysterious and scary, and no Lumiere, or our favourite Mrs. Potts. Or even the head of the household, Cogsworth. And instead of Belle enjoying the banquet, her father is the one who’ve feast in the long table.




After her father satisfied himself with all the food and wine, he found the treasure chest but missing one item on his list – a rose, a thing that is requested by Belle. Leaving the enchanted castle and his horse carrying the chest full of treasures, he passed by the huge tree filled with many roses.

Her father picked one rose for her, but her father was caught by the Beast. To save his life and his whole family, he needs to bring Belle in the castle in exchange of his life and of his family along with the treasures the Beast gave him.

Talk about a ransom exchange huh.




Her father doesn’t want it, but it also means losing the life of his own family. Belle heard the conversation with her family, and she bravely runaway riding the horse towards the enchanted castle, to save the lives of her family.




Eventually she reached the enchanted castle, filled with withered roses and vines – contrary to the precious rose stored in a glass. The Beast wsho




Curious as always, Belle have wandered the castle until she reached the magical room with the healing tub, which magically heals her wounds brought by scratches in the woods. She wore the dress that she had found in the room and continued wandered the castle, until she met the Beast during their first dinner.




But every night when she fall asleep, Belle is always disturbed by this dream – showing the former life of the castle, including the former Queen (who turns out the Goddess of the Forest, who also occasionally turns herself into a doe).

A bit complicated, right? Which makes this movie more exciting.

The Beast tried his best to get Belle’s love by bribing her all the fortunes and beautiful dresses, but Belle despise him big time. Feeling afraid, Belle still kept herself composed and hold her ground.




There are some flashback scenes of the former life of the Beast when he was still a human together with his former Queen, and all the happy life in the courtyard. All these keep on visiting Belle on her dream which is a mystery to her.




In the morning, she continued to explore the castle, while the little deformed puppies stalking her (quite cute gesture I may say).




Belle is eager to solve the mystery of the castle and the Beast’s secret. And even asked him for a dance.

And no iconic yellow ball gown! Ohh no this story is destroying Belle! But nope - keep on reading...

The Beast again tried his chance with Belle, but she still despise him. She tried to run away and escaped but didn’t succeeded.

But the Beast have pity on her, and she was allowed to see her family for one last time.




Belle was heartbroken when she discovered that her father is ailing. Using the potion that the Beast gave her, she gave it to her father and regained his strength.

There’s another flashback scene that show’s how the Prince turns into Beasts which is the most exciting part. The scene is quite heart breaking and thriller, that’s why you must watch this!

However, her brother Maxime wants to avenge his father, so he asked Perdigus’ group to kill the Beast. Upon learning this, Belle rushed back to the castle to warn the Beast, however there was fights between Perdigus’ men and the enchanted creatures with giants and wild vines of the castle.






Until the Beast was stabbed in the chest, and the nature got to angry – Belle and her brothers immediately rushed the Beast up to the tower, and he Beast was put in the enchanting well.


Belle was so heartbroken seeing the dying Beast in the enchanting well – she whispered for her love to him, and with her tears falls, it magically turns back the Beast into its human form on the struck of midnight.

Hold on, where is Gaston? What happened to Perdigus?

Ahh there is no Gaston in the story. Only the hoodlum Perdigus who was eventually eaten by the vine and became a tree!

And does Belle and the Beast (now the Prince!), continue lived in the castle with all the glitz and glam? See for yourself..




Nope.

The Prince chose to follow Belle back to the countryside, leaving his past and live happily ever after.
See, not all Belle lives like a Cinderella life you know. There are Prince that will follow their Belle wherever she goes.

Such a bummer I am, I know but I would like to share you that sometimes, our life are being twisted by chances, but it’s our own decision if we will follow it, or make it right. And though this version is very contradicting to the original story – still I like it.

And yes, the human Prince is never been as gorgeous as you always expect on most Disney stories. But he got that irresistible Frenchman charm that is hard to resist.


NO wonder Belle loves him :D


Are you still excited to watch the newest Beauty and the Beast?


I hope ladies enjoyed my review and yeahh see you tomorrow on the movie opening!

xoxo, Blair

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