Az prijde kocour (1963)

Director:

Vojtech Jasný

Writers:

Jirí Brdecka (writer)
Vojtech Jasný (story)

Release Date:

20 September 1963 (Czechoslovakia)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

Some people with a strange cat arrive in a small village. The cat wears glasses, and when someone takes them off...

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Traveling Circus | Cult Favorite | Laziness | Principal

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jan Werich	...	Magician / Oliva
Emília Vásáryová	...	Diana (as Emilie Vasáryová)
Vlastimil Brodský	...	Teacher Robert
Jirí Sovák	...	School director
Vladimír Mensík	...	School janitor
Jirina Bohdalová	...	Julie
Karel Effa	...	Janek
Vlasta Chramostová	...	Marjánka
Alena Kreuzmannová	...	Gossip
Stella Zázvorková	...	Ruzena
Jaroslav Mares	...	Restaurant owner
Jana Werichová	...	Chairman's wife
Ladislav Fialka	...	Stealer
Karel Vrtiska	...	Miller
Václav Babka	...	Policeman

Also Known As:

That Cat
The Cassandra Cat
The Cat Who Wore Sunglasses
When the Cat Comes (International: English title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S

Company:

Filmové Studio Barrandov

Quotes:

School director: [subtitled version] Listen Robert, denoting your superior as a murderer in public doesn't seem like constructive criticism.

Trip Into the Fantastic

A psychedelic look at human nature and the different desires that each person in a small village have. A cat that is accompanied by a circus troupe enters a small village and exposes what each person feels by showing them in different colors of emotions. Many in this small village are selfish and self centered except for the romantic teacher. The director uses a range of colors to show the different elements of human behavior. The teacher played by Vlastimil Brodsky is a hopeless romantic that falls in love with Cassandra, a member of the performing circus.

Az Prijde Kocour/Cassandra Cat(1963) is for everyone of different age groups. The children see the cat as the bearer of truth and the giver of unlimited imagination. The adults in the village see the cat as a threat because they are fearful of that truth that sees beneath the lies. The only adult who is not threatened by the cat is the romantic teacher. The cinematography is excellent and the music is good.

Cassandra Cat(1963) is not very different from the films of Terry Gilliam especially Time Bandits(1981), and Brazil(1985). The romantic angle of Az Prijde Kocour(1963) reminds me in many ways of similar scenes in Brazil(1985). Cassandra Cat(1963) is an ageless film by one of the masters of the Czech New Wave, Vojtech Jasny. The ending of the motion picture is sad. Emilia Vasaryova is arousing and sweet natured in the role of Cassandra.