The Cat (1971)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The cat |
| Original title | Le chat |
| Country of production | France , Italy |
| original language | French |
| Publishing year | 1971 |
| length | 86 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Pierre Granier-Deferre |
| script | Pierre Granier-Deferre, Pascal Jardin |
| production |
Raymond Danon , Maurice Jacquin |
| music | Philippe Sarde |
| camera | Walter Wottitz |
| cut |
Nino Baragli , Jean Ravel |
| occupation | |
| |
The Cat (Le chat) is a Franco-Italian feature film from 1971. It is based on the novel of the same name by Georges Simenon .
action
At the center of the plot is an old couple who lead a desolate marriage: the former artist Clémence Bouin, who has been limping in the ring since an accident, and the former printer Julien Bouin. You live in a dilapidated area where space is to be made for new buildings. The house in which they live is also to give way to the surrounding large construction site, and the property is expropriated. He is apathetic and only feels something for his cat; He is indifferent to his wife after more than 20 years of marriage. She, on the other hand, tries to wake him out of lethargy with her torments and uses increasingly drastic means. First she abandons the cat in a supermarket, but it finds its way back home. Finally the woman shoots the cat, whereupon the man wants to leave his wife. But she cannot live without him; he comes back but doesn't speak to her anymore. From then on, the two only communicate using small notes. At the end the man gives her a note: "Le chat" ("The cat"). The woman then has a heart attack. When he briefly stretches his legs and sees the light go out from the street (the woman collapses and kicks the floor lamp with her), he goes back because he suspects something. When she dies, the man breaks his silence and mourns for her. He swallows a large number of pills and sinks down in the armchair next to his deceased wife. Soon after, he dies in the hospital.
criticism
“The description of the state of a crumbling marriage is symbolically contrasted with the demolition of a residential area. Well played, but too emotional; a film that arouses pity instead of provoking reflection. "
“Based on a novel by the Belgian writer Georges Simenon (1903-1989), the French filmmaker Pierre Granier-Deferre has staged The Cat, the dark chamber play of a cold marriage that lives entirely from the intense play of its charismatic main characters. Simone Signoret and Jean Gabin, celebrated veterans of French cinema, celebrate in an impressive way in late roles a poisonous duel between the sexes over addiction and hatred, for which they were both awarded the Silver Bear at the 1971 Berlinale. The drastic end of this deeply disturbed, tragic story, within which even a temporary separation cannot ease the entanglements, underlines once more the smoldering hopelessness of a connection that has become inexorably bitter after quite happy times.
The pictures of Walter Wottitz, who together with Jean Bourgoin received an Oscar for best camera in the war drama The Longest Day in 1963 and who filmed the army in the shadow of Jean-Pierre Melville with Pierre Lhomme, understand it perfectly, especially the wordless scenes of the in downright to visualize the pleasurable hardship imprisoned married couple concisely. Here seemingly insignificant gestures and minimal expressions of the antagonists' facial expressions are so meticulously focused that they mutate into a juggernaut of malicious attacks that apparently describe the only - albeit astonishingly powerful - bond that holds Clémence and Julien together. This is great French film art that captivates, touches and relentlessly raises the big questions about love, hate and addiction. "
background
The exterior shots of the Bouin couple's house took place in Courbevoie , in Impasse Dupuis , which was actually being renovated at the time. The dead end no longer exists today and was roughly where the Voie de l'Ancre runs today . 48 ° 53 '22 " N , 2 ° 15' 12.5" E
Awards
Signoret and Gabin were awarded the Silver Bear for best leading actress and best leading actor at the 1971 Berlinale for their performance . Director Pierre Granier-Deferre was nominated for the Golden Bear .
Web links
- The cat in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The cat in the online film database
Individual evidence
- ↑ The cat. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .