WHO IS THIS?

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#1

I’m doing something a little different here. For those of you who don’t know, a good friend of mine really wants to get an account here, but for certain reasons, she’s currently not able to. I occasionally relay messages from her to various people on this site (When she gets an account here, her username will be “red”) .

She had something to share with you guys, so I’m gonna shut up. :stuck_out_tongue: Here you go!!!

(Just a warning…Spoilers!)

After Linguini returns from the press conference and begins to get angry at Remy, you’ll notice as Remy is climbing up his arm that there is a photograph sitting on the shelf. Here is what you’ll see in the picture (for those of you with blu-ray, you may be seeing this better):

-A shadowy figure resembling a woman
-there is a gun in her hands
-she’s wearing what appears to be some sort of hat (beret, maybe)
-you cannot see her face clearly
-she appears to be wearing a cloak
-the way the shadow falls, it looks like she’s wearing braids (but I think it’s just shadow - I think she has short hair)

Does anyone have any idea of who this is? This is what I’ve deduced, but you can speculate and tell me what you think.

I think that the woman in the picture is Mabel; the old lady from the beginning of the film. Somewhere, I found this fact that said Mabel and her husband were involved in the French resistance, and that’s why she possesses a shotgun. But the question is: why would a picture of Mabel be in Gusteau’s office?

One day my brother happened to mention to us as we were watching the film, “Mabel’s nose looks like Linguini’s.” This was kind of a stupid comment at the time, but it helped shed some light on the subject in this case. Now, what I’m wondering is this: does Mabel constantly watching the cooking channel and being a food lover have anything to do with this?

This is what I’ve come up with, based on these facts:

Mabel is somehow related to Gusteau. Not sure how, as of now. (This is maybe where you guys could help me.) If you pay attention, you’ll see that she does sort of possess characteristics of Gusteau. Here are the two options I’ve come up with to further explain:

  1. She is Gusteau’s mother
    Maybe her resembling the late chef slightly is due to this fact, or…
  2. She is an older sister of Auguste Gusteau
    Maybe her parents were food lovers as well, and this is what inspired her and her brother to love food; only her brother went on to do something amazing with his talents. The thing about her being his sister is that she would have to be many years older than him because she’s an old lady in the film. (There’s another question: does anyone know how old Gusteau was when he died? Maybe that would help a little bit.) We know for sure that it has been two years since the great chef’s death (because the will is about to expire in the movie), but we don’t know how old he was.

So yeah, thought that’d be an interesting topic to debate upon! Tell me what you guys think and if my explanation makes any sense. : )

- [b]red[/b]
#2

I will come to Guesteau relations later…

Marbel however WAS in World War 2, and as said, fought for the French Resistance.

As for relations…
An interesting note is how often, as to Remy, her Food Channel always at one point has Guesteau on it. And given that at one point it told of his death, it would be an autobiograpy, which would mean Marbel did have interest.

I find it rather odd that there might be a conncetion between Marbel and Guesteau…
This woman, whomever it may be, might have been related to Guesteau, though nearly knew Marbel in the resistance, and who probably gave Marbal interest in food.

Ha hah…Many things could go here…I commend your great effort and research JF. I am so myself and I must say I am quite impressed. Bravo.

#3

Thanks Nexas, but read the first paragraph of the post. :wink:

And it’s “Mabel,” not “Marbel.” :stuck_out_tongue:

#4

“Marbel” LOL 8D

You have just taken away all of my sleep tonight, but it’s something worth staying up to think about. Nexas is right, Mabel was in the French resistance along with her husband (who probably died), and that’s how she learned how to use a shotgun. It probably is Mabel in the picture, but I have no clue why it’s in Linguini’s office. Maybe she’s realted to Gusteau in some way, maybe even a friend of his? This is very interesting.

#5

Well kudos to your friend then heh.

Forgive that typo. Everytime I think of this character I’m referred to an old woman in Tales of Symphonia named Marbel. A slave-driven woman who died rather unfortunately…

I am unsure if there was ever any mention of her husband being in the force as well…but given the war’s extend I won’t argue too much…

Most would take it as just a referrance place randomly about her WW2 days, but I tend to think there must be some sort of connection.

Lets see…the events of the film were in 2007…oh drat…was the top of my history class yet the years of the WW2 are adrift with me…hard memory for me…
But perhaps that’s something to start with. The years of the war itself. Perhaps an average age of woman fighters in the resistance, and using reasonable aging to determine Marba…MABEL’s…age.

#6

I have two quick theories:
She could be Jessie or her former owner Emily from TS2. Emily and Jessie both have reason to hold a (toy) gun.
or
That could be Renata Linguini. Why wouldn’t Linguini have a picture of her?
I have to say I really DON’T think that’s Mabel.

#7

I like option 3, which is that she just has a big ol’ nose like everyone else in the movie. Seriously, France must be the land of the big noses. Even random background people have big noses.

#8

Well, I got some ideas last night. Remember this line?

Since Linguini’s mother and Skinner had some sort of friendship, you think that’s the same with Larousse’s relatives? Maybe Mabel has some relationship with Larousse?

#9

Wow, now this is interesting.

I can bet it’s probably Linguini’s mom.

Or it could be Gusteau’s mom.

Either or.

There’s not enough information to support this.

#10

In the age brackett, this person could practically be anybody involved in the resistance.
On a side note that Larousse, the Garde Manger, ran gun for the resistance as said by Collete. Maybe nothing but a pitch.

looks over notes…Ah.
One thing to start with is to see if this picture was in the office when SKINNER was running things. If it’s still there, would mean that it’s significant to Skinner and/or Gusteau. If not, means Linguini brought it and is significant to him and/or Guesteau.
That’s something to start with.

#11

Sounds good, Nexas! I’ll check it out ASAP, although I have doubts.

#12

Some sound advice is not to always sweat the small stuff. What might be small may, with the research and possible connections, open up a new truth to something.

#13

I actually looked t it last night, and no, the photo wasn’t in the office when Skinner was in charge (At least, not when he’s speaking to his lawyer for the first time). So I think we have reason to doubt that the photo has anything to do with Gusteau.

#14

Well there are a few scenes in that office that could need to be verified for the photo…(A good source may be just when Skinner’s returning from chasing Remy and opens the door to “his” office, and we get a good view of the desk)
But for now…
If that is the case, means that Linguini brought it in. And seeing as how he had no idea he was Guesteau’s son, the photo has no connection to Guesteau or Skinner.
A good conclusion would be that the woman in this picture is Linguini’s mother, set in a place he would spend most of his time in, and as a look for inspiration I think.

#15

I’m so happy! IDK why, but maybe it’s just that this mystery is this close…|–|…to being solved! Yippee! :smiley:

#16

Like many things, it’s the chase that gives the thrill and the catch that gives the glory heh heh.

#17

Here is a response from my good friend red. :wink:

A113 : You are a genius.
It’s pure coincidence that you happen to drag Larousse into this because this theory I have come up with ties into my fanfic!

What’s happening (in the story) is this:

(This is a spoiler for those who haven’t read my fanfic…and probably never will…)
After Alfredo’s mother is mysteriously murdered in the presence of her son, her best friend Larousse offers to find him a home; since his father has o time for him. The home Alfredo is put in is that of Larousse’s Great Aunt Mabel.

 Now, in the fanfic, it would make perfect sense that Mabel could possibly be [i]Larousse's[/i] [b]great Aunt.[/b] His grandmother (his [i]mother's[/i] mother) could have been Mabel's sister (making her the great Aunt of Larousse). If Mabel were an older sister of Auguste, he would have shown up many years after her. (Maybe he was a the surprise in the family...?) So, (according to my fanfic) all this time, Larousse has been friends with Auguste; who would end up being his great uncle!

 But my fanfic, I can see, is of no aid or concern to any one of you. So I'll make a few more comments on what you [i]are [/i]familiar with...

 One thing is: has anyone listened to the way Skinner talks to Linguini when he arrives? He seems to [b]not remember[/b] Renata, but [b]Larousse[/b] does. Hmm...that might tell us something...

 And another thing: [u][b]Gusteau[/b] was the first one to inhabit the office;[/u] and I couldn't see how Skinner would want to add anything of his own to the office in respect for the deceased chef. (Seeing as how they might have been close in early years.)

Back to Mabel - She very well could be some kind of distant relative to either 1) Gusteau, 2) Skinner, or 3) Linguini. The reason why I think it’s Mabel is because of that fact I heard that said she and her husband were with the Resistance (this is why she knows how to use a gun).

 I highly doubt that the photograph is one of Alfredo's mother, Renata Linguini.

 - [b]red[/b]
#18

Actually Skinner added a whole host of Guesteau cut-outs used in his frozen food merchandise parts…though how long it’s progressed can’t really say…

Good point there from your friend that he doesn’t remember Linguini’s mother…however…from WHO the picture came from is still up for debate till someone sees if it was in the office during Skinner’s reign or at Linguini’s…

#19

I said it before, it doesn’t show up until Linguini takes over. You first see it shortly after Ego leaves Gusteau’s for the first time.

#20
o_0;;Ratatouille have paid off, because now I’m a genius! 8D Thanks!

That whole Larousse thing I find very interesting…it got me interested in your fanfic, so I’ll start reading it soon.