Past Film/Video | Series & Festivals

Ernest & Celestine

(Benjamin Renner, Stéphane Aubier, and Vincent Patar, 2012, France/Belgium/Luxembourg)
Ages 6 and up | FREE!

Stream | Zoom Family Film Festival

Celestine the mouse sits on a branch overhanging a river while Ernest the bear relaxes on the bank in the grass.

An Academy Award nominee and audience favorite at our 2013 Zoom festival, Ernest & Celestine joyfully leaps across genres and influences to capture the kinetic, limitless possibilities of animated storytelling.

Deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, and tucked away in networks of winding subterranean tunnels, lives a civilization of hardworking mice terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer—and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for a singing bear named Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond. But it isn’t long before their friendship is put to the test by their fearful communities.

Like a gorgeous watercolor painting brought to life, the animated film features a constantly shifting pastel color palette that bursts and drips across the screen, while wonderful storytelling and brilliant comic timing draw up influences as varied as Buster Keaton, Bugs Bunny, and even the outlaw romanticism of Bonnie and Clyde. Bringing it all together is the onscreen chemistry between the two lead characters—a flowing, tender, and playful rapport that will put a smile on your face and make your heart grow.

The all-star English-language voice cast features Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, Lauren Bacall, Paul Giamatti, William H. Macy, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, and Jeffrey Wright. (79 mins., digital video) Available in French with English subtitles or an English dubbed version. Closed captioning available for both versions.

Parents, if you have any questions about Zoom activities and films or their content, please contact Wexner Center Community, Youth, and Family Programs manager Jean Pitman at jpitman@wexarts.org.

See the complete Zoom: Family Film Festival 2020 lineup.

Zoom 2020 / Ernest & Celestine extras!

Celestine the mouse sits on a branch overhanging a river while Ernest the bear relaxes on the bank in the grass.

Image courtesy of GKIDS

Celestine the mouse rides Earnest the bear's shoulders and whispers into his ear.

Image courtesy of GKIDS

Celestine the mouse draws in a book.

Image courtesy of GKIDS

Celestine the mouse traverses a sewer.

Image courtesy of GKIDS

Related Material

Presented in partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Library

FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Cardinal Health
Kaufman Development

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Rohauer Collection Foundation

LEARNING AND PUBLIC PRACTICE PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
American Electric Power Foundation

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Ingram-White Castle Foundation
CoverMyMeds
PNC Foundation
State Farm

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Greater Columbus Arts Council
L Brands Foundation
American Electric Power Foundation
The Columbus Foundation
Ohio Arts Council
Mary and C. Robert Kidder
Bill and Sheila Lambert
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Huntington
Nationwide Foundation
Adam R. Flatto
Arlene and Michael Weiss

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Michael and Paige Crane
Axium Plastics
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Lisa M. Barton
Business Furniture Installations
Our Country Home

Close

Past Film/Video

Ernest & Celestine