by Mark Murton

Directed by: Michael Radford

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: In this Hollywood remake of the 2005 Argentinian original, Elsa y Fred, embittered, recently widowed octogenarian Fred Barcroft (Christopher Plummer) is moved, against his will, into an apartment in New Orleans. His new neighbour is 74-year-old Elsa Hayes (Shirley Maclaine), a flighty, vivacious romanticist who dreams of “the sweet life” as depicted in her favourite film, La Dolce Vita. Despite their opposite temperaments and outlooks on life, they fall in love and when Fred learns Elsa is terminally ill he determines to fulfil her dream of wading in Rome’s Trevi Fountain like Anita Ekberg in the Fellini film.

Kitty Cameo: Towards the end of the film Fred sets out to find a white kitten like Anita’s cat in the movie. He wanders the streets clutching a piece of paper but can’t find what he’s looking for and as night falls he makes his way back to the hotel. He passes a black cat on some steps which encourages him to descend the steps.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Fred and Elsa depart the hotel with Fred carrying a covered basket and make their way to the fountain. Nearing their destination Elsa reaches into the basket Fred is carrying and gently lifts out a (mostly) white kitten. Elsa gathers the kitten to her then instructs Fred to go and get some milk as Marcello Mastroianni did in the film.

Elsa continues on and as she gets her first view of the fountain she stops and stares in wonder.

The film then switches to black and white as Elsa recreates the Anita Ekberg scene.

Meanwhile, Fred returns and sits beside the kitten. He apologises to the kitten as he could only get yoghurt but urges it to try some before he joins Elsa in the fountain.

Final Mewsings: Actually yoghurt is better for cats than milk.

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