When the Cat's Away Movie Review 1996

Touching Gallic frolic finds introverted Parisian make-up artist face-to-face with adventure while searching for her lost cat. Chloe (Clavel) eventually comes out of her shell, as the search for little Gris-Gris brings her into contact with a wide variety of characters, some lonely, like herself, played by real people and real cats. Best non-actor kudos to Renee Le Calm as Madame Renee, the kooky neighborhood cat lady, with her network of cat fanciers acting as the reconnaissance party for the runaway feline. Director Klapisch's comedy also tackles weightier topics along the way, including lonliness, homelessness, racism, and the moderization of a city steeped with history. Stylishly spare with adept photography, seems almost semi-documentary.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS
Running time 91 minutes.
Originally from French.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Paris, Cats, Only the Lonely, Metamorphosis, Singles, Model Citizens

Screenplay

Cedric Klapisch

Cast

Garance Clavel, Zinedine Soualem, Olivier Py, Renee Le Calm, Romain Duris

Cinematography

Benoit Delhomme

Director

Cedric Klapisch

Producer

Sony Pictures Classics