Le Chat

The kind of film which can leave no one ice cold. It is impossible not to feel anything, not to weep in front such a story. Poignant, gripping, painful, so realistic and close to reality of millions of couples all over the world. A tale about old age, not very old though, but more than mature anyway. Terrific performances pulled by two giants of the French movie industry: Jean Gabin and Simone Signoret. Many folks may feel empathy for both of the characters, feel so close to them, to their tragedy. A movie about loneliness and the loss of love but maybe not tenderness. A film about regret of lost happiness. Two people who spent their whole life together and who suddenly get bitter, only thru a cat issue. You could spend hours analysing this awesome story, but so gloomy, sad, moving. One of Pierre Granier Deferre's best, with LE TRAIN and LA VEUVE COUDERC. In terms of couple feud about a pet - among many oter things - it's the smoother version of WAR OF THE ROSES.

A derelict neighbourhood is becoming gentrified. An unwanted house is becoming demolished. A claustrophobic marriage is becoming dissolved. Absorb the depressing mood: script, score, silence. A superior film.

When the young lust faded, the sexual appealing disappeared day by day, day after day, facial features sagged, legs turned weak even limping started mysteriously, all the joints hurts, wrinkles all over the face, the neck skin loosened, flipped and flopped like a turkey, arms and thighs muscles shrunk and dingling like hollow balloons without air, hairs lost and dropped everywhere, teeth ached and gum disease deteriorating, eyesights became fuzzy and blurry. A couple lived together over 50 years, what else would be used as an interesting conversation? Communication with what? Without sex, life simply lost the maintaining power to go on. Sex desires distinguished by enlarged prostate, tunnel dried up after menopause. If windows not opened every morning, bedroom smelled like death, not just old fart smelly odor. Cat or no cat, that's not the excuse. Everyday to old farts is nothing but unbearable torture. Heart attack is welcome since it just happens without premotion, drop dead right on the spot is actually a blessing. Swallow sleeping pills is another way out, just gulp them down with enough tap water or bottled water. When you become old enough, awaiting death is an impatient yearning like buying lottery, you never know when you hit the jackpot to bow out.

A critic whose name I forgot wrote:"imagine that in "le jour se lève" (1939),Jean Gabin did not die;he would have married Jacqueline Laurent and what would have become of them?Probably what Granier-Deferre shows in his movie (adapted from Georges Simenon)".It's a harsh cruel ruthless effort:daily life ,routine,humdrum,a love worn away by time have destroyed everything."Wounds have burst open,and corridors rust/Once proud and truthful,now humble and bent/Fires which burnt brightly,now energies spent"(Keith Reid) These two former lovers have become the worst enemies;Gabin has transferred his affection to a pet,and Signoret cannot stand it.Around them,wrecking balls are destroying all the old houses,it's a transparent metaphor ;their world is crumbling and they know it.The second part,when Gabin stops talking to his wife and writes her notes to communicate is downright depressing.And however,the ending will show that even after floating on an ocean of mud,love ,or something which looks like love, survives.

This started as a Georges Simenon story, and is typically brutal about human relationships. I like it so because of the performances of Gabin & Signoret - they were as good as you can get, and here are at the top of their powers. Either of them would have blown anybody else I can think of off the screen. Excellent, if very French.