Directed by: Richard Linklater

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

Synopsis: Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) meet in Paris nine years after their first (and last) encounter and spend time catching up and dealing with their unrequited feelings.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the opening shot we see a lovely tabby cat in a courtyard.

We learn near the end of the film that this is Celine’s cat as Jesse walks her to her apartment. The cat is in the courtyard. Celine has mentioned her cat a few times in the film, even saying she has written a song about him.

Celine cooes over her kitty and explains that she lets him out every morning into the courtyard where he experiences everything as if it is brand new.

Jesse asks the cat’s name and Celine answers “Che.” Jesse nods knowingly, assuming it refers to Che Guevara (he is always accusing Celine of being a communist) but she explains Che means “hey” in Argentina.

When they approach her apartment some people are having a barbecue. A woman stops to talk to Celine, likely asking if they will be joining them.

Jesse asks if he can come up to Celine’s apartment and hear one of her songs.

As they walk up the stairs in the old building, Celine holds and pets Che while she and Jesse steal glances at each other.

Celine asks Jesse to hold Che as she opens the door to her apartment.

Once inside, Jesse lets Che jump down to the floor where he walks behind a counter and isn’t seen again.

The cat handler on the film was Laurent Flaesch.

Final Mewsings: Cats can help us to forget lost loves (at least for a little while).

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