"C'est fini, Mèmè."
- Most of the film is more or less dark comedy, but the montage at the beginning of the film where Madame Souza's suburban home is gradually swallowed up by a dark, grimy Paris is rather saddening.
- Everything, everything Madame Souza does is to please her grandson, especially after his parents have died and he's in a deep funk. When he expresses the slightest interest in bicycling, she's all-in. She puts her own happiness as a very distant second to his.
- The ending references the beginning of the film, after the "Belleville Rendez-vous" cartoon ends, and shows Madame Souza and Champion watching the TV. In the ending, Souza's first words at the beginning of the film echo as the scene cuts to Champion, now old, grey and by himself, watching the same TV, before replying back to the voice. It is strongly implied that Champion is taking his last breaths.Madame Souza: Is that it, then? Is it over, do you think? What have you got to say to Grandma?
Old Champion: It's over, Grandma.- Doubly so if you realize that Madame Souza, Bruno, and the triplets are implied to have long since passed on.
