When the Cat's Away
When the Cat's Away ★★★ Chacun Cherche Son Chat 1996 (R)
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. 91m/C VHS . FR Garance Clavel, Zinedine Soualem, Olivier Py, Renee Le Calm, Romain Duris; D: Cedric Klapisch; W: Cedric Klapisch; C: Benoit Delhomme.