When the Cat's Away (1996)

Chloe, a young woman, is going on holidays. She entrusts her beloved cat to Madame Renée's care. But one day Madame Renée (an old lady of the neighborhood) can not find the cat. Chloe ... See full summary »

Director:

Cédric Klapisch

Writer:

Cédric Klapisch

Stars:

Garance Clavel, Zinedine Soualem, Renée Le Calm

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Garance Clavel	...	Chloé
Zinedine Soualem	...	Djamel
Renée Le Calm	...	Madame Renée
Olivier Py	...	Michel
Arapimou	...	Gris Gris, le chat
Rambo	...	Rambo, le chat
Simon Abkarian	...	Carlos
Frédéric Aufray	...	Photographer
Olivier Barny	...	Un ouvrier ébéniste
Jane Bradbury	...	Un mannequin
Joël Brisse	...	Le peintre Bel Canto
Olympe Brugeille	...	Madame Brugeille
Franck Bussi	...	Mec aggressif
Marilyne Canto	...	La femme flic
Aline Chantal	...	Madame Doubrowsky

Storyline

Chloe, a young woman, is going on holidays. She entrusts her beloved cat to Madame Renée's care. But one day Madame Renée (an old lady of the neighborhood) can not find the cat. Chloe starts searching the neighborhood... This is the pretext for the exploration of a quarter of Paris and his inhabitants.

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Plot Keywords:

missing cat | investigation | private investigation | long haired male | male objectification | 

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Taglines:

No man. No job. No cat.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a brief strong sex scene and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 June 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

When the Cat's Away

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$247,804, 20 June 1997

Gross USA:

$1,652,472, 14 September 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo,France 2 Cinéma,Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Madame Renee: Men have let me down, but animals, never. Never!

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Face/Off/Dream with the Fishes/Head Above Water/The Last Time I Committed Suicide/When the Cat's Away (1997)

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Soundtracks

seduction - part 1
Performed by Metatron
Written by Christoph Fringeli
editions program editions
(p) 1995 praxis/polygram distribution
avec l'aimable autorisation de polygram projets spéciaux

User Reviews

A true gem

Am I glad that European (especially French) cinema is still live and well. Every time I loose hope for the future of cinema, a film like this comes and gets me excited again! This is one of those rare films that not only entertains but also reminds us of our easily overlooked qualities and weaknesses. The main character goes through an experience that we all go through - looking for her "better half". And the way she does it as well as the way it happens is so beautifully realistic and lively. (by the way, the original title in French means "Everyone is searching for a cat" - which is much better then "When Cat's Away").

This film also has some of the finest acting I've seen in the recent years! I am personally tired of Hollywood's stereotypes and larger then life actors, and this film is refreshing in that respect. I know that acting was good when after the film I can't imagine those actors doing anything else in their lives except the very thing they did in the film. For example there is a fashion designer for whom the main character works and that funny, alienated, two-faced woman is just too believable. I could almost swear that she's like that in real life. Or the main character who goes through periods of self doubts, rejections, confusion...

The story in this little gem is brilliant, as are all the actors and their characters. Even the city of Paris is a character - different from the one we are used to (and so is the area around Bastille which until a few years ago was not as hip as it is today).

This film is not trying to get our attention with violence or sex or with intimidation and gore; it is a simple film about simple people in seemingly simple situations that are so true to life and therefore funny, original and interesting.

As a matter of general principal I bought this film on a video tape - one of less then 50 that I own.

If you appreciate true emotions, true unpretentious funny people and are looking for a good way to bring your spirits up, then you should see the film. Someone mentioned that the film was depressing and nothing is further from the truth.

If on the other hand you are looking for over stimulating, over polished, over scripted and "smart" film then this may be a bit of a letdown. I can imagine people who are too used to Hollywood disliking this film.

All in all - strong 10/10.