Judges: Yuki Saruwatari (film journalist), Hawk Terasawa (writer), Naoto Mori (film critic)
A masterpiece film featuring a brilliant performance by a cat
human drama
What the Cat Taught Me
A special bond between cats and humans, helping each other while remaining independent. / "A documentary following stray cats in Istanbul, Turkey. A mother cat who receives food from humans and takes it home to her kittens, and a cat who only begs restaurant staff for food when it's hungry, and various other situations are captured from the same humble perspective as the cats. Cats maintain their independence while also giving something to humans, and humans love them. It really is a special relationship." '16 USA / Director: Jada Torun. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
The Diary of Anne Frank
War and discrimination cast a shadow over the lives of animals as well. / "Anne Frank and her family went into hiding to escape Nazi persecution. The film depicts their days in hiding. Their pet cat, Musshi, is a source of comfort in their suffocating life. Musshi's fate after the family is sent to a concentration camp is not shown, but the film makes us realize that humans are not the only victims of war and discrimination." 1959 USA / Director: George Stevens. (Selected by Terasawa Hawk)
Harry and Tonto
As a beloved companion, replacing his late wife. / "Harry, an elderly man who has retired from his long-time teaching job and lost his wife, sets off on a journey across America to visit his daughter with his old cat, Tonto. Tonto, who silently listens to Harry's eccentric monologue and brings him peace of mind, is truly the best partner to replace his beloved late wife. The title, which lists both of their names equally, is also wonderful." 1974 USA / Director: Paul Mazursky. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
Comedy
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
They're cute together, but be careful not to let them escape. / "The main character is an unsuccessful musician. One day, when he opens the front door of the house he's staying with, the cat jumps out, and he chases after it out into the city. There's a cute scene in the middle of the film where he gets on the subway with the cat he's lucky enough to catch, but considering that the cat turns out to be a completely different cat later on, it's still a big deal if the cat escapes. Everyone should be careful." 2013 USA / Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
"Keanu"
The cuteness of a kitten captivates both good and bad people. / "Two ordinary men rise to the occasion to protect Keanu, a newborn kitten who doesn't know his left from his right, from the clutches of the mafia. It's a very well-made action comedy, but what remains after watching it is only Keanu's devastating cuteness. Good and bad people love cats! It reminds us that life revolves around cats." '16 USA / Director: Peter Atencio. (Selected by Terasawa Hawk)
"The cat is missing"
This "carefreeness" opens up the protagonist's daily life. / "The protagonist is Chloe, a 20-something woman who is busy with work. As she searches for her missing pet cat Grigri, she comes into contact with many different people and makes new acquaintances. Grigri does not appear at all until the end of the film, but when he reappears you are left speechless. This role would not have suited anyone other than a free-spirited cat who unconsciously manipulates people." 1996 France / Director: Cedric Klapisch. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
SF
"alien"
Even when surviving extreme conditions, he has his cat with him. / "Jones the cat is on board the space freighter Nostromo with seven other crew members. Aliens infiltrate the ship, causing panic, but crew member Ripley finds Jones hiding and they try to escape the ship together. Even in a life-threatening situation, she doesn't abandon Jones. That's right, cats are important friends!" 1979 USA / Director: Ridley Scott. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
Men in Black
Even though he's been appointed an important character, he doesn't seem to care. / "This film depicts the battle between humans and aliens who blend into society. The alien keeps a cat named Orion as a pet, and the Milky Way is inside a jewel in his collar. It's typical of a cat to always remain calm and unfazed while carrying such an important item. It's not just aliens who lack common sense; cats do too. Perhaps they too have come from another planet." 1997 USA / Director: Barry Sonnenfeld. (Selected by Terasawa Hawk)
A Quiet Place: Day 1
Their survival skills in the city surpass even those of humans. / "A prequel to the sci-fi horror known for its 'instant death if you make a sound' premise. Samira, who has terminal cancer, tries to survive in New York, which is under attack by mysterious giant life forms. Frodo, the beloved cat with his intelligence and outstanding survival skills, plays an important role throughout the film. While he essentially leads Samira and the others as their leader, his laid-back manner of chasing mice in the midst of chaos is also impressive." '24 USA / Director: Michael Sarnoski. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
Hard-boiled/Mystery
"ARGYLLE"
The director's beloved cat warms the film and the set. / "The story is about Ellie, a spy novelist whose life is threatened by a spy in real life. She has a cat named Alfie, and the way they walk together in an argyle carrier is stylish, and the action at the end of the film is thrilling. In fact, Alfie is director Matthew's cat, Chip. He commutes with him every day, and he was apparently loved on set too." '24 UK-USA / Director: Matthew Vaughn. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
Lethal Weapon 3
Pay attention to the cat jokes that the skilled detective makes. / "The film begins with a pair of detectives attempting to defuse a bomb. A cat appears on the roof of a car that has been fitted with a bomb. At this point, one of the pair, Mel Gibson, cracks a joke, playing on the words "catastrophe" and "cat." Perhaps it could be translated as, "This is a cat that's going to be a disaster." Even in a tense scene, seeing a cat makes you want to make a good-humored dad joke." 1992 USA / Director: Richard Donner. (Selected by: Terasawa Hawk)
"The Long Goodbye"
A selfish masterpiece that opens the film. / "Private detective Philip Marlowe gets caught up in a case in this film. The best part is the opening. In the middle of the night, Marlowe is woken up by a hungry cat. He gives it some food he has on hand, but it doesn't satisfy him, so he has no choice but to go into town to buy some cat food. The way he is bossed around by his cat in one shot really nails down the image of a "dull" Marlowe. '73 USA / Director: Robert Altman. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
love story
Breakfast at Tiffany's
This is one of the most representative cat movies, but it also has a moral lesson. / "It's a love story between a free-spirited woman, Holly, and a young man who moves into the same apartment building. Holly has a friendly cat who will jump onto the shoulders of strangers. Holly's cat brings her comfort despite her unstable inner self, but when she loses control of her emotions, he also bears the brunt of the consequences. I hope that people who keep pets will learn from this." 1961 USA / Director: Blake Edwards. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
"aphrodisiac"
He coolly works behind the scenes as a witch's servant. / "Gillian, a witch living in New York, falls in love with her neighbor Shepherd and commands her Siamese cat, Pyewackett, to cast a spell on him. Since she sometimes senses glimpses of supernatural powers in cats, it makes sense that she is called a witch's servant. While he works coolly, he is often seen clinging to someone's shoulder, which is quite eye-catching." 1958 USA / Director: Richard Quine. (Selected by Terasawa Hawk)
Betty Blue: Days of Love and Passion
As a poetic being that overlaps with the heroine. / "Sorg is a young man who aspires to be a novelist, and Betty ends up living with him. The two lovers cherish their white cat. In the midst of their unstable days, Betty meets a tragic death, but what awaits them is a beautiful and heartbreaking ending in which it seems as if Betty's soul has taken up residence in the white cat. This film gave me the idea of cats as poetic beings." '86 France / Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
anime
Shrek the Second
Full of charming "cat-like" behavior. / "In the previous film, Shrek the monster fell in love with Princess Fiona. The two happily marry, but her parents, who don't like Shrek, send in Puss in Boots as an assassin. He pretends to be an assassin, but immediately afterwards he starts coughing repeatedly and spitting out hairballs, giving him plenty of humor. His "cat-like" behavior will have you laughing." '04 USA / Director: Andrew Adamson and others. (Selected by Saruwatari Yuki)
"Jarinko Chie the Movie"
Cats have their own determination and sense of justice. / "This film depicts the warm-hearted daily life of elementary school student Chie and those around her. One day, a cat named Kotetsu suddenly appears before Chie. His true identity is that of a powerful man who has won battles with cats all over the country. From his hard-boiled lifestyle, cats cannot help but receive the harsh message that, from the cat's perspective, humans are not a big deal, and that life or death is up to them." '81 Days / Director: Takahata Isao. (Selected by Terasawa Hawk)
Fritz the Cat
A strong character with a "free and wayward" personality. / "This is the outrageous story of Fritz, a tough tabby cat who is super sexy and careless, makes fun of hippies and revolutionaries, and is a college dropout. Anthropomorphizing animals is especially common in anime and manga, but I think it has the effect of making even the most outrageous characters look "cute." Of all those, a cat is the perfect character for a "free and wayward" character." 1971 USA / Director: Ralph Bakshi. (Selected by Mori Naoto)
