Genre: Adventure/Mystery/Animation
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Jacob Jones
Voice Cast: Ewan McGregor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kristen Bell, Johnny Depp, Andrea Libman, Roscoe Orman, Catherine Deneuve, Peter Cullen
Plot: Among the streets of Paris, a poor man is shown wandering through the streets, on the search for a place to take refuge. After bumping towards and being harassed by several people, he enters a small instrument store.
He takes a good look at all the instruments before a gravelly yet kind voice asks if he can help. The young man comes over to the stall and sees the Store Manager (Peter Cullen). He asks the manager where he can find the accordions.
The store manager reveals that a new supply had come into stock last week and offers to showcase them to him. He obliges, following the manager and inspecting all that he sees. When they come towards the stalls that contain the accordions, the man's investigation begins to grow in furor and intrigue.
He then notices one more accordion sitting on a stool inside a glass cage and asks the manager what type of accordion it is. The store manager explains that it is a special type of instrument whose music is so beautiful it can send anyone in a trance. Known simply as the Accordion De Chanson.
Sold on the details, the poor man declares his intent to buy the accordion. The manager forbids it, saying that it's powers are too much. The man's demeanor changes to serious and demented and after asking again gets out from his coat a knife, saying he'll make him an offer. The screen fades to black as the petrified store manager backs away...
One Month Later:
A fashionable detective and his assistant are shown looking at the old instrument shop that has been shuttered. Inspector Tavon (Ewan McGregor) has been hard at work trying to find the missing Accordion De Chanson. But so far he has yet to trace it's steps. To him it seems that it's always a step of him.
Katherine (Kristen Bell) however is still on the topic of the Store Manager's murder lamenting on why someone would end his life. Despite his pained expression, all Tavon can tell her is that people die for terrible reasons. A grim reality that has existed since civilization began.
As the two depart the premises, they come across a man rushing towards the sidewalks. Tavon greets him and the man introduces himself as Gerdau (Jordan Gordon-Levitt). Tavon happily acknowledges him, but asks why he’s off in such a rush. Gerdau explains that he is to meet a beautiful girl named Marie (Andrea Libman) down the avenue. In flashback, it is explained that he saw her and her family on the streets and offered a piece of bread. The girl was grateful to his kind gesture and soon the two began to hang out, and he showed her the best France had to offer. There, he made a solemn vow to pay her back for helping him discover it. Tavon commends him as honorable and is invited to join him. Tavon thanks him for the offer but kindly rejects as he must return to his office to continue his case.
As Tavon and Katherine depart, Gerdau sets off to find Marie walking the streets of Paris until he comes by an alleyway where out in the shadows she awaits him. He greets Marie with a light kiss to the hand and tells her that he has written a special song just for her. As Marie sits down in anticipation, Gerdau gets out a vibrantly colored accordion and begins to play for her. The melody is crisp and beautiful as is his singing voice and it carries her into a fantasy world where she is a beautiful princess, and Gerdau is her prince.
When the song ends, Marie applauds Gerdau’s skill and grace and calls him a true beauty. Gerdau humbly accepts the compliment and says that he never knew what true love was like until he met her. This leads to Marie to proclaim that she will never leave his side, it is there Gerdau notices a hazy look in her eyes and offers to take her home. She refuses, asking if Gerdau could continue playing. He obliges.
The Next Morning:
Inspector Tavon is shown looking through his papers and filing in all the latest clues when the phone rings. Katherine picks the phone up for Tavon and he answers. It is Louie D’Archinard, or as Katherine calls him: Judge Lou (Roscoe Orman). He claims to have to call in order to see if Tavon has gotten any closer to solving the case. Tavon says he has not. For whatever reason, something has not added up to him.
Judge Lou urges him to buck up and continue on his path until he figures out what is putting his case in dire straits, after all, he didn’t become the world famous detective of France for nothing. Motivated by this, Tavon begins to set off in search of more clues, but before doing so, he is warned of ‘Les Tisserands’, the drunkards of the town that lurk in the morning time.
Tavon and Katherine manage to find their way around town without getting into too much trouble (though one rather rowdy ‘Tisserand’ tries to flirt with Katherine, much to her disgust) and enter the market places. All seems to be in order at first, until Katherine points towards Arlo’s Supply Shop where a frustrated Arlo (Johnny Depp) is shown chasing away two unruly teenagers. Tavon rushes towards the scene and tries to get to the root of the problem, but by the time he arrives the two have left.
Arlo apologizes for his rude introduction and invites the two inside his shop. Once the two enter and obtain some tea, Arlo reveals that two hooligans by the names of Gerdau and Marie stopped by his shop and were acting quite obnoxious alongside a couple of boys. All while making a complete mess of the streets of Paris. The girl especially seemed like she was a lovesick puppy, refusing to leave Gerdau’s side and loudly preaching the virtues of love. This takes Tavon by surprise as he had seen him before and thought of him as a decent man.
Arlo understands that Tavon means well, but warns him not to trust all that he sees or hears. Tavon proceeds to leave, but not before being told of a mysterious accordion that played beautiful music. So much so that it drove away several customers. He shudders at the thought of music being that powerful and storms off, leaving Tavon satisfied if not slightly confused. He asks if Katherine can keep tabs on the Gerdau situation so they can get a better understanding of what’s going on.
That Evening:
Katherine goes alone to the villages of Paris carrying only a lantern and a notepad. Cautious as to what Tavon had told her, she flinches over every brief noise until she hears a group of people celebrating by a fire. Katherine stealthily makes her way towards the party, trying to get a better view and sees a group of inebriated men singing a tale about a group of young adults trying to convince a grumpy old man (played by Gerdau) to let his daughter (played by Marie) dance with them.
When the song is finished, Gerdau announces a toast to the love he has found with Marie (who appears to be growing more and more dazed by the second). He doesn’t get far into his speech however as his eyes turn to Katherine. He graciously welcomes her to their party and offers a feast for her arrival. Katherine politely refuses, wishing to speak to Marie.
A defensive Gerdau suggests Katherine listen to a song beforehand and garners the accordion from one of the men. Katherine listens to Gerdau play yet another great tune, but something about the accordion catches her eye. She asks if she can see the accordion for a moment, but the men refuse to let her interrupt his music and is offered several glasses of wine every time she tries to question him.
By the dawn of twilight, Katherine is absolutely inebriated and has fallen fast asleep. Marie notices this and out of pity tries to carry her home. This fails miserably and Marie decides to sleep next to her as a result.
The Following Morning:
Inspector Tavon is shown inside his office alongside Judge Lou awaiting Katherine’s arrival. Katherine stumbles in much to their concern and admits that she was seduced by the music, fervently apologizing to Tavon in the process. Tavon forgives her, saying that the power of temptation can corrupt even the strong-willed.
Deciding to take the day to themselves, Tavon and Katherine head towards their favorite cafe alongside Judge Lou as a special treat. It is where they once again hear the musical stylings of Gerdau and Marie, this time, the two of them seem to be singing together whilst a group of people watch in awe and delight. All seems to go well until Katherine notices the same accordion she saw yesterday being used.
She rises up from her seat, apologizing to the locals but also revealing that she has found a historic instrument. This is not taken well at all and she is menaced by three men. Gerdau manages to lure them away by throwing a stick at them and forcing them to chase after it. Gerdau and a starry-eyed Marie take Katherine back to Tavon and Judge Lou, apologizing for disrupting their meal and giving them permission to look at their accordion.
As Tavon examines the accordion, Judge Lou laments the mess the hooligans have made. Gerdau expresses his concern as well, saying it’s the third time in as many days an event like this has occurred this month. Their disappoint is set aside as Tavon appears fascinated by the craftsmanship of the accordion, calling it unlike anything he’s ever seen. Katherine explains that she’s seen it before, declaring it the long lost Accordion De Chanson.
No one is willing to believe her though. Gerdau claims that he will do some research and report to Tavon in the morning. As Gerdau leaves, however, Marie is forced to stay behind much to her irritation. From there, Tavon asks a series of questions involving her relationship with Gerdau, all ending with the same reasoning and rationale: He loves her and she loves him back, further perplexing him.
That Evening:
Gerdau is shown inside his house looking at the accordion. He smiles at his instrument before putting it away in a drawer. He chuckles to himself, finding the whole game to be quite silly. Gerdau glances at a picture of himself alongside his father and says softly that he has a way to raise the stakes even higher, getting out his poor man’s clothes and readying his fists.
Inside a quaint little house, Tavon can be seen sleeping when he begins to hear pained cries of help. He groggily awakens from his slumber and stumbles his way out and sees a weakened Gerdau crying out. Tavon comes toward him and helps him up, offering to let him rest at his house. Gerdau then sorrowfully claims that the accordion has been stolen.
Gerdau describes the culprit as a senile old man who had been drinking too much liquor and was rambling about how he had ‘ruined the peace of Paris’ fearing that Arlo has snapped. Tavon offers to let him stay in his home until he has healed, an offer he graciously accepts.
Early Morning:
Arlo is set to open up his shop when he is confronted by the police. He is handcuffed despite his attempts to plead innocence. Tavon watches on, lamenting Arlo’s plight and hoping that he gets the help he needs soon. He walks onward through the streets of Paris, finding that the entire town is plagued with anarchy as young men and women rob stores, disrupt the elderly and menace all those who get in their way. In need of a place to evade the hooligans, Tavon hides inside Madame Suzette’s Songbird Choir House where he awaits a strict, glaring teacher whose class has been disrupted by his arrival.
While Tavon tries to avoid a tongue lashing from Suzette (Catherine Deneuve), Katherine wanders across the villages. While doing so, she hears soft crying coming from the forest. Marie is found as she laments that her parents forbidding her to see Gerdau as he is a ‘bad influence’. Feeling pity for the young girl, Katherine offers to walk Marie to a much safer environment so they can talk. As they do so, Katherine realizes that Marie is so into the influence of Gerdau’s music that she cannot think of any other reason as to why she loves him.
Back inside Madame Suzette’s Songbird Choir House, Tavon is scolded for interrupting a rehearsal much to his embarrassment. He sheepishly apologizes, noting the climate in France seems to be growing worse by the day. This continues until the two hear crashing noises and screaming. The two hurry outside to find Judge Lou being ganged up by a group of hooligans. Suzette chases the two away.
Tavon and Suzette help Judge Lou inside the choir house and rehearsal is cancelled. There, Tavon, Suzette and Judge Lou begin to talk about recent events. Judge Lou brings up the news of Marie being barred from seeing Gerdau which draws a slightly unnerved response from Suzette. She tries to change the conversation’s direction to that of the mystery, but they’re too interested in her connections with Marie.
Suzette only tells the two that ‘time’ did it’s deed and heads outside. They don’t see her again for the rest of the day.
As Suzette slowly walks the streets of Paris, she reminisces about a time when she was younger walking down the same streets and coming across a young girl dressed in rags, singing quietly to herself. Intrigued by her vocal quality and inspired by her willingness to learn, she took her into the choir and put all her time and energy into making sure she would be ready for the future that awaited her.
By the time of her 13th birthday, she had grown into a well adjusted, beautiful and talented young woman. Sadly, time had drifted the two’s connection apart. Realizing this, Suzette decided that it was time for Marie to set off on her own and vowed to send her off, hosting a surprise party celebrating her accomplishments and the bright future she had in store. When the party was finished, and Suzette walked home. She saw from behind her a teary-eyed, smiling Marie. The two would share one final embrace, before parting ways.
When the flashback ends, she sighs to herself and continues on her walk.
That Afternoon:
As Inspector Tavon sits in his office, he contemplates everything, remembering what Arlo told him. His thought process is interrupted by Katherine telling him that Gerdau has invited them over for dinner, something Tavon quietly accepts. Concerned for his well-being, Katherine tries to speak to him. Tavon admits that the case has stressed him out, from the incident with Katherine and Gerdau to Arlo being arrested, Gerdau’s injury, Judge Lou getting caught in a fight and Suzette’s feelings on Marie.
Katherine rallies her boss onward, saying that he has solved many cases over the years (like the case of the Diamond Dog of Denmark and the Corrupt Cornfield Caper) and that this is another he can figure out. Even if she has to join somewhere in the middle to do it, she refuses to let her boss go down. Tavon feels an air of relief inside of him, calling Katherine a good friend. The two share a quick embrace which is interrupted by Tavon’s phone.
Judge Lou can be heard revealing that he will be hosting the trial for Arlo tomorrow. In order to prove his innocence however, the accordion must be found. The only advice Tavon can give Katherine at this point? ‘Think with your eyes’.
That Evening:
Katherine softly repeats this sentiment as the two enter Gerdau’s house, Marie unknowingly tagging along behind them. As Tavon and Gerdau greet each other by the door, Katherine glances behind to see Marie smiling. She says nothing of it. Tavon and Katherine are soon sat down by Gerdau, Marie sitting next to Katherine. Brief small talk comes about involving Marie and Katherine, at this point Marie is so deep into the accordion’s spell the only thing she can say is “Gerdau loves me”.
Tavon decides to break the truth to Marie: If she only likes Gerdau for his music, then maybe it’s not real love at all. Marie flinches at the thought and demands they tell her what real love is like, to which Tavon mentions the various types of love people experience every day, culminating in a song he and Katherine sing.
Marie appears touched by the song and admits to secret of her own, she has grown attached to Katherine, her style and personality. Before a surprised Katherine can respond however, Gerdau returns with steak and soup dinner for all involved. He tries to convince Tavon to try the soup, but Tavon is ‘not hungry’ and proceeds to ask several questions regarding the accordion.
Gerdau tries to explain that he is still trying to find the criminal but understands time is short. Tavon however still isn't convinced and urges him to hurry. It's around this time Marie begins to feel faint. Katherine offers to take Marie to the bathroom only leaving the men.
From there Gerdau's attitude completely changes. Gerdau peppers Tavon and Marie with insults, calling them 'gullible’. After some instigating from Tavon, Gerdau admits to the whole sham. His reason? To continue a legacy his father started.
Many years ago, there lived a man named Cosmo. A charismatic, charming young man, he would woo the town with his silk like voice and his trusty lute. One day, his lute was broken by an unruly man after an argument regarding a girl they fancied. Filled with rage, he went off in search to find something that would take care of him: Le Accordion De Chanson.
In order to obtain it, he had to make a 'permanent offer’, killing the store owner with a knife (the same knife Gerdau used) and stealing it for himself. He would soon learn that the accordion had the power to hypnotize anyone who heard it's music. He would use this power to brainwash her and most of Paris.
One day, he decided to plan a ‘final dinner’ as he would be 'moving away’. Soup was a popular dish for the couple, but for this one he added several doses of rat poison. Once she was pronounced dead, he declared his intent to spread his influence for his love's sake and traveled all over Europe amassing a harem of beautiful women and strong men in the process.
The truth got out thanks to a man named Arlo and he was sentenced to death. As for the accordion, it returned 'home’ to the music shop. An enraged Tavon warns Gerdau of the consequences. Gerdau can only smile smugly and mockingly reminds him to not trust all that he sees. He heads off to go check on Marie, leaving Tavon in his own shock and anger.
Hours later, Katherine and Tavon watch in horror as an ambulance takes Marie away. Before she departs, she glances at Katherine and hoarsely tells her that they were right. As the ambulance leaves, Tavon apologizes to Katherine for not listening to her and asks if they can talk about a way to obtain the accordion before the trial. The two go inside to discuss ideas.
Next Morning:
Outside Gerdau's house, Gerdau is shown leaving for the courthouse and leaving a few men to guard the house. Once Gerdau is gone, Katherine goes out from her bush and begins to distract the men.
While this is going on, Tavon is shown trying to climb up a tree and angle himself. When a panicked Katherine gives him the signal, he barely makes it on the roof. The guards notice this and as he rushes down the chimney, the guards head inside and soon find Tavon inside Gerdau's living room.
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, Judge Lou and Suzette are shown waiting for them. He looks at his watch and sighs, having no choice but to start the case without them. Suzette waiting outside for them. Gerdau saunters around by this point, briefly acknowledging them before entering.
Back in Gerdau's house, Tavon tries to lose the sight of the guards, running all over the house. He trips over a rug however and cowers over, ready to take the besting from the guards until a high heel knocks out the beefiest guard. Katherine stays behind so Tavon can get the accordion.
Tavon enters Gerdau's bedroom and looks everywhere he can until coming across a drawer that makes an unusual sound. He opens it, revealing the Accordion de Chanson. Unfortunately for him, the guards have managed to evade Katherine long enough to see Tavon escape and go after him. Tavon calls on Katherine to keep hold of the accordion as they enter his car.
Inside the courtroom, Gerdau is seen giving a compelling speech against Arlo, winning over the jury. Judge Lou is seen trying to stall for time despite the jury finding Arlo guilty.
Tavon frantically drives across the streets of Paris, the guards hot on their tail after stealing a wagon from a little boy. Needing a distraction, Tavon breaks open a window and begins to belt out an operatic tune. The tune manages to mesmerize the guards long enough to break away from them.
They finally arrive at the courthouse as Suzette orders them to come inside. Katherine offers to hand the accordion over but Tavon lets her take it in, saying his work has finished.
Inside the courtroom, it appears Judge Lou is about to declare Arlo guilty before a loud voice objects. Everyone turns around to see Katherine carrying the Accordion de Chanson.
She tells the jury of how Gerdau stole the accordion and lied to everyone. Even his girlfriend who she believes has died. She explains how it's power were used for evil after the death of Lucille De Chanson and forced the government to confine it to the local instrument store.
Gerdau asks how she knows so much of the accordion, leading to Katherine to reveal a secret connection with herself and music. One she's had for many years. She had planned to take a musical degree, but opportunities for her were scarce. So she decided to take up a different job: As Inspector Tavon's assistant and best friend. And when she says that, she knows she is telling the truth.
In the end, Gerdau confesses to his crimes and is sentenced to life in prison. After the court adjourns, Arlo meets up with the rest and tells Tavon that he is proud of him for remembering what he said. Tavon thanks him, but says Katherine is the real hero. Katherine however says they both were heroes and the two share an embrace.
Epilogue:
Inside a hospital room, a doctor introduces a sickly Marie to some visitors. She opens her eyes and sees Tavon, Katherine, Suzette, Arlo and Judge Lou. After Tavon explains what happened, Marie pleads for forgiveness. They do as Tavon reminds her to not trust all you see or hear.
Marie asks if she can trust them, Katherine steps forward, telling her they can always trust them. Suzette proposes one final surprise for Marie and Tavon gets out the famed Accordion De Chanson and begins to play music as the others sing a slow, melodic tune. And for once the Accordion De Chanson is used for the enjoyment of all.
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