Chacun Cherche Son Chat (When The Cat's Away)

Cedric Klapisch, France 1996, 95 minutes

A wonderful, unpretentious little film, When the Cat's Away is one of those movies that just might re-affirm cynics faith in the cinematic medium. Shot in a rough, improvisational style on a low budget with many non-professionals, the film is set in the streets of Paris' Bastille district. The story is tres simple: Make-up artist Chloe goes on holiday, leaving her beloved cat Gris-Gris with cat minder Madame Renee. Chloe comes back. Gris-Gris has gone missing. An epic quest though the quartier begins as Chloe searches for her pet, meeting other inhabitants of the district en route, some hindering her search, others assisting.

In style, theme and feel, Klapisch's film owes a considerable debt to the nouvelle vague cinema of the 1960s: casual handheld shots, jump cuts and the general ambience of coolness and contingency. More specifically, you get the feel of a Rohmer film, through the direct and functional style. The focus is on the everyday trials and tribulations of young Parisians with perhaps a touch of Alphaville which shares the theme of Paris in a constant state of transition.

All in all, I can't praise this film enough. If you've seen and liked any of Rohmer's recent output, or Hong Kong maestro WongKar Wai's Chunking Express or Fallen Angels, or Wayne Wang and Paul Auster's urban tales of Smoke and Blue in the Face, then this might well be right up your street. Even if not, give When the Cat's Away a try anyway!

Review by Keith H Brown
Taken from EUFS Programme 1997-98