Of course we’re all wondering what year exactly did most of the events in Ratatouille take place? Well, I have come up with one theory that could give the answer.
The Written Dates Theory
While Remy is reading Gusteau’s will, you can read that the will was written in 2001 at the bottom of the paper. So, the events of Ratattouille must have taken place at least two years after the will was written, which would be sometime after sometime in 2003. Also, in Linguini’s apartment, you can see a calendar which shows the month of September, beginning on a certain day of the week. The first year where the September on the calendar matches the real September’s outline in or after 2003 willl be 2008. Therefore, the main events of Ratatouille possibly take place in September 2008.
Of course, Remy’s narration was after these evnts had happened, and that amount of time is pretty much an unsolved mystery.
I didn’t know all that stuff, A113, but you can also tell that it is in a modern day setting because the health inspector and some other random people on the street drive smartcars, which are fairly new.
To answer the time question…
I’m not too sure on how Wills realtively function but I’m gonna do guesswork here, basing it on that a Will becomes active on the passing of it’s person…
So Guesteau’s death is filling in factor…and I suppose it depends on whether the show Remy was watching and showing Emile was a re-run or not (though doubt it given Remy’s commitment).
RMSH: I tried to tell you, didn’t I? jk Ratatouille 2 is coming along wonderfully, anyway. You’ve got me in nervousness waiting for the next chapter.
By the way, typewriters are just much less frustrating than computers in many ways. That’s why “the work of a critic is easy”. Sheila or Ashely or Sheila and Ashley: They do? Cool! I thought their cars were just smaller than American cars. Nexas: I know that Remy has access to television/video equipment. I absolutely know it! LOLOL! First of all, he’s obviously got a little rat-sized remote control or something, since he pauses the film right when he’s jumping out the window at the beginning. And the narration works smoothly with the film, too. Second, you can see that he and Emile did a nice job setting up the background for Your Friend the Rat, and obviously knew that there was a camera in front of them, since Emile was all “FEED US!” xD
Welcome back!
Well, yes, European cars in general are probably smaller. Actually, the smartcar originated in France, and is now all over Western Europe, I’m pretty sure. They were all over Austria when I was there. Now, they’ve brought them to the states, but not a lot of people will drive them because they’re afraid the hummers will run them over…
-this is Sheila by the way.
Sheila: It did? I really need to brush up on my modern European history. LOL
By the way, the health inspector’s name is Nadar LeSsard. Nexas: Yes, of course! xD wondering who gave him that DVD player
Believe it or not, MCC Smart started as a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Swatch (yup, the watch company), so I guess it could be called Swiss/German. As far as the cars in the movie, there’s a whole lot of era-defining French cars in the movie (Citroën 2CV, DS, Skinner has a Talbot Lago, a bunch of the Citroën H vans too), I thought that was a nice touch. There were a couple in there that looked like modern Mercedes and Renaults too, so that could tip off the time setting of the film.
A113, I love you to pieces. I actually thought the movie was set in the 1940s at first, because of the typewriter and the 2CV (nice catch, nubetre) - and because I was seriously fooled by the “homage to silent cinema” as a member on here called it. BUT then the thing that seriously threw me was the DNA test! I was sure then that it was fairly contemporary. Bless you, A113! I actually remember seeing the date “2001” now, but darned if I could recall the first time.
Now bear with me: Didn’t the will say that if an heir didn’t show up within two years, the restaurant would go to Skinner? And he says, and I quote, “The deadline expires in less than a month!” So wouldn’t that place it solidly in 2003, or is there something I"m missing?
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putmoneyinthypurse: Thanks. I also thought Ratatouille looked somewhat old, but that DNA test blew my mind. I mean, I knew it was possible, but didn’t they just discover how to test DNA a few years ago?
The date in Gusteau’s will was June 23, 2001, and the earliest Gusteau could have died was June 24, 2001. The calendar in Linguini’s apartment showed a September than began on a Sunday. The two years after June 24, 2001, which had a Setember which began on a Sunday, were 2002 and 2013. Since it is clearly not 2002 (too early for the date expiry in the will), then, assuming the calendar is correct, the main events in Ratatouille must have taken place in September (and possibly some of October) 2013 or a future year with a September beginning on a Saturday, such as 2019, 2024, 2030, 2041, etc.
I’m guessing there’s no definitive date, but 2003 sounds just about right, isn’t that when the movie started full on production since a normal Pixar movie takes about 4 years to finish?
RMSH: xD I don’t think 2013 is going to be any more futuristic than 2008. It’s only five years, and since Obama won’t be President by then, things won’t change too much. xD Martin: Assuming Linguini’s calendar is correct, it must have taken place in 2013 or later.
A113- Let’s assume not… If so, then 2003 seems extremely possible, and the most likely year for it to take place. 2013 is kinda way into the future to me anyways.
Martin: Well, why not? The facts are there. However, that calendar in Linguini’s apartment could be left from 2002. But you can clearly see the same calendar later in the film during Ego’s speech, and it sure looks like the same month, so it’s correct, since Linguini had plenty of time and money to change his calendar or buy a new one. 2013 is not exactly futuristic, especially since most of us live the United States and not France. France is not as highly developed a country as the United States (although it sure is old ). It’s only six years. Also, you might notice that everyone seems to have those “smartcars” during the chase, which hasn’t exactly happened yet, but seems possible, right?
(times 9 million)
I really need to brush up on my modern European history. LOL
