O Gato Sumiu

Much preferable to Klapisch's follow-up, the stagebound UN AIR DE FAMILLE, this film still visualises the traumatic labyrinth of its heroine as she tries to escape her diffident personality, her rotten luck with men and the bewildering changes to her beloved Paris. Klapisch isn't above using his cat metaphor scatalogically as well as philosophically, but the detective search for enlightenment gives the plot a badly needed momentum the second film lacks.

Rohmeresque, it's been called, and you can see the point in the reliance on dialogue, young protagonists, irony and colour-coding, if not the elder's overarching critical intelligence. CHACUN achieves an empathy with its heroine the Master might envy.

A wonderful insight into the types of characters we might meet in a rundown part of Paris which has seen better days and which is being demolished to make way for new and modern buildings. In some respects it's like a documentary about the concerns of the local populace for Gris-gris, a missing black cat. I think all the characters are well portrayed as a network of searchers comb the whole area and maintain daily reports over the telephone. I think the old lady Renee is absolutely priceless, not only as the recognized cat-minder but as a person who is able to express an opinion on every conceivable subject about Parisian life and attitudes. The search for Gris-gris takes us across rooftops and down alleyways to no avail and we ourselves become totally involved in the cat's whereabouts and hope he has come to no harm. It's amazing that such a simple theme can maintain our interest for 90 minutes, but undoubtedly it's the authenticity of the characters that makes this film so enjoyable.

What starts out initially as a rather dull drama, quickly picks up pace and sparkles.

A lovely little movie that hopefully will never be given a Hollywood remake this movie is a treat.

A few days in the life of a young woman framed by the search for her missing pet. I was charmed.

This film is listed as "When The Cat's Away." You will like

the characters in this film. They are all good people intent

on living their lives and interacting with each other in

meaningful ways. You may not agree with their lifesyles,

but you will not dislike them. I found the elderly ladies very

interesting especially with regard to their interaction with

the young woman (Chloe) who is the main character. The

story evolves around the loss of Chloe's beloved cat, Gris-Gris ("Gray-Gray"). This is a film that will absorb you

as you admire the human warmth and pure honesty of everyone involved in Chloe's life.