One Rat Short

One Rat Short is a work of love created by Charlex Films. It began as part of the effort to grow the company's commercial CG department but eventually became much more than that. Originally, it was called labratz and as the title might suggest it mimicked the look and sensibility of work already pioneered by other studios. As it evolved it took on a life of its own and became "our film." From the start we decided not to use anthropomorphic animation. We decided it would take place in two worlds: one so gritty, grimy and dark that the viewer needs to peer into the screen in order to make out the images and the other a sterile white world so brightly lit that you feel the need to turn your head away from the screen. It was also important to me to keep the film looking as real as possible. One of the techniques we used was to give a lot of the camera work a hand-held feel and to keep it a little behind the action so that the scenes didn't seem staged. Lastly and most importantly I kept the story simple and tried to give it heart. One of my favorite short films which I saw as a child was The Red Balloon. I think the melancholic and innocent spirit of that film inhabits One Rat Short.

Alex Weil, Director

Ratatouille Soundtrack

Le Festin

French

Les rêves des amoureux sont comm’(e) le bon vin

Ils donn(ent) de la joie ou bien du chagrin

Affaibli par la faim je suis malheureux

Volant en chemin tout ce que je peux

Car rien n’est gratuit dans la vie

L’espoir est un plat bien trop vite consommé

A sauter les repas je suis habitué

Un voleur solitaire est triste à nourrir

A un jeu si amer je n’peux réussir

Car rien n’est gratuit dans…

La vie… Jamais on ne me dira

Que la course aux étoiles; ça n’est pas pour moi

Laissez moi vous émerveiller et prendre mon en vol

Nous allons en fin nous régaler

La fêt(e) va enfin commencer

Sortez les bouteilles; finis les ennuis

Je dresse la table, de ma nouvell(e) vie

Je suis heureux à l’idée de ce nouveau destin

Une vie à me cacher et puis libre enfin

Le festin est sur mon chemin

Une vie à me cacher et puis libre enfin

Le festin est sur mon chemin

English

Dreams are to lovers as wine is to friends

Carried through lifetimes, (and) spilled now and then

I am driven by hunger, so saddened to be

Thieving in darkness; I know you’re not pleased

But nothing worth eating is free

My hope is a banquet impatiently downed

Impossibly full, now I’ll probably drown

Many thieves’ lives are lonely with one mouth to feed

If giving means taking, I’ll never succeed

For nothing worth stealing is…

Free at last; won’t be undersold

Surviving isn’t living; won’t eat what I’m told

Let me free, I’ll astonish you; I’m planning to fly

I won’t let this party just pass me by

The banquet is now underway, so…

Bring out the bottles; a new tale has spun

In clearing this table, my new life’s begun

I am nervous, excited; (oh) just read the marquee!

A lifetime of hiding; I’m suddenly free!

My dinner is waiting for me

A lifetime of hiding; I’m suddenly free!

My dinner is waiting for me

The Cast of Ratatouille

Patton Oswalt as Remy
Director Brad Bird chose Patton Oswalt to voice Remy after hearing his food-related comedy routine















Lou Romano as Alfredo Linguini
A clumsy garbage boy who becomes a famous chef overnight, though Remy does the actual cooking
















Janeane Garofalo as Colette Tatou
The only female chef in the kitchen, who eventually becomes Linguini's girlfriend and Remy's only supporter among the original Gusteau kitchen staff















Ian Holm as Skinner
The Napoleon-esque, Facel Vega-driving, owner of Gusteau's (after Gusteau's demise) and the main antagonist of the film.
















Peter O'Toole as Anton Ego
A feared, powerful food critic who, after a scathing review, drove Gusteau to his death. He claims to love food, but refuses to eat any that does not match up to his lofty expectations.


















Brad Garrett as Auguste Gusteau
A deceased master chef. He often appears as a figment of Remy's imagination, talking to him and acting much like his conscience.

















Brian Dennehy as Django
The father of Remy and Emile. He wants nothing more than for his son to stay with the colony, and has a bias against humans.
















Peter Sohn as Emile
Remy's older brother. He is loyal and good-hearted, though unimaginative, and is Remy's confidant. He also indiscriminately wolfs down anything that seems remotely edible, much to Remy's dismay.

The Recipe

To begin, prepare the ingredients:

6 garlic cloves

5 medium button or brown mushrooms

(I prefer brown for more flavor)

1 medium zucchini

5 sprigs of Italian parsley

4 sprigs of basil

1 medium onion

1 can diced tomatoes drained

(or 2 tomatoes peeled, seeded, and diced)

chicken or vegetable stock (3/4 cup or 180mL)

1 Tb tomato paste

1 medium green bell pepper

1 large eggplant (about 1 lb or 450 g)

Watch it.

The Cuisine

The word Ratatouille comes from Occitan ratatolha. It is also used in French (touiller, also means to toss food). Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Occitan Provença (French: Provence) & Niça (French: Nice). It was originally a common dish, prepared in the summer with fresh summer vegetables. The original Ratatolha de Niça used only courgettes (zucchini), tomatoes, green and red peppers (bell peppers), onion, and garlic. The dish known today as ratatouille adds aubergine (eggplant) to that mixture.

Ratatouille is usually served as a side dish, but also may be served as a meal on its own (accompanied by rice or bread). Tomatoes are a key ingredient, with garlic, onions, zucchini (courgettes), eggplant (aubergine), bell peppers (poivron), rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, thyme, or spices such as herbes de Provence.

There is much debate on how to make a traditional ratatouille. One method is to simply saute all of the vegetables together. Others, including Julia Child, insist on a layering approach, where the eggplant and the courgettes are sauteed separately, while the tomatoes, onion, garlic and bell peppers are made into a sauce. The ratatouille is then layered in a casserole—eggplant, courgettes, tomato/pepper mixture—then baked in an oven.When ratatouille is used as a filling for savory crepes or to fill an omelette, the pieces are sometimes cut smaller than in the illustration. Also, unnecessary moisture is reduced by straining the liquid with a colander into a bowl, reducing it in a hot pan, then adding one or two tablespoons of reduced liquid back into the vegetables.

The World is At Your Feet, Dream Dream Big

Ratatouille is a story about family and the ties that bind us to those we love. It is also about friendship and how we learn to trust the people who love us and help us make our dreams come true. Above all, this is a story for and about artists—anyone with a dream of becoming more than who they think they are. Remy is an inspiring everyman with a dream. He is constantly faced with choices, at every turn he has to look at himself and decide what is right and what is not. He’s not perfect, and he often makes mistakes. This is what makes him likable and—dare it say it?—ultimately human. Though he’s urged by his family to play it safe, stay at home, and be like the rest of the pack, Remy decides to give humans like Linguini a chance. At stake is not just his life, but the chance to become Paris’ most celebrated chef. How’s that for a challenge, Bravo?