The Case of the Grinning Cat

The Case of the Grinning Cat (Chats Perchés)
2004, 59’
Director: Chris Marker
Language: French
Screening: Sunday, 10 February, 14.00, Thursday, 14 February, 19.00

In the month of November following 9/11 Chris Marker became intrigued, as did many other Parisians, by the sudden appearance of portraits of grinning yellow cats in the streets, on buildings, and on metro walls. The filmmaker started following this mysterious feline through the streets of the city. Like the cat, he chronicled France’s political events, from demonstrations and election campaigns to celebrity scandals and the War in Iraq. In the meantime an art collective called Mr. Cat makes its appearance. They paint a massive representation of their mascot on the plaza before the Centre Pompidou. Thus Marker’s own famous cat crosses paths with Mr. Cat…