Je t'aime, je t'aime (1968)

by Mark Murton

English Title: I Love You, I Love You

Directed by: Alain Resnais

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

Synopsis: Claude Ridder (Claude Rich) is leaving hospital after an attempted suicide when he is asked to participate in a mysterious experiment in time travel by a private research body. They have succeeded in sending mice back unharmed for periods of one minute, but need to send a human back to confirm the subject did actually revisit the past. Claude agrees, but instead of returning promptly as the mice had done, he re-experiences various episodes from his past in a disjointed and fragmentary fashion.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): As the scenes of Claude’s time-travel (or are they simply just memories?) aren’t presented in chronological order the first mention of the cat comes in a scene when his girlfriend Catrine (Olga Georges-Picot) suddenly announces, “We’ll have to sew the cat’s eyes.” “What?” asks a startled Claude, to which she responds, “You know we have a cat?” It would appear that Catrine is talking in her sleep, which would account for the strange statement.

In another scene Claude walks into the bathroom as the off screen cat meows. Claude looks down and says, “You’re awake, too? You go to the office in my place.”

Again cats are mentioned but not seen when the couple are standing on a bridge and Catrine explains her philosophy of life: “Imagine for a minute that God created the cat in His image? Thousands of years later, or two hours, I don’t know, He created men . . . with the only purpose of serving cats. As their slaves. Cats were given lucidity and men neurosis and the passion for building and possessing things. Men were created just for the benefit of cats. All civilisation has no purpose but to feed and give comfort to cats. That’s why men created so many things that secure cat’s well being: fishermen, sawdust, rugs, cushions, radiators, bowls. Maybe even the radio because cats love music.” Claude ponders this before replying, “I’m glad you’ve figured out who we are and why we’re here. That had always bothered me.”

The aforementioned cat is finally seen when Claude, lying on the bed, asks “Where’s the cat?” and Catrine, who is sitting on a chair by the bed, leans forward, scoops up a small grey tabby and tosses him over Claude’s back onto the bed. Claude tries to grab the fleeing animal but misses, cursing in annoyance.

Je T'aime je t'aime - Catrine Olga Georges-Picot about to toss small grey tabby cat over Claude Rich

Je T'aime je t'aime - Catrine Olga Georges-Picot tossing small grey tabby cat over Claude Rich animated gif

The cat only appears once more in a scene that takes place earlier than the previous, hence the cat is now only a kitten. Claude is again lying on the bed with Catrine sitting on the bedside chair when the kitten jumps up onto the bed. “Hello cat, I’m glad to see you,” declares Claude.

Je T'aime je t'aime - small grey tabby kitten on bed with Claude Rich and Catrine Olga Georges-Picot

Je T'aime je t'aime - Claude Rich with small grey tabby kitten on bed and Catrine Olga Georges-Picot animated gif

Claude strokes the kitten lightly as he conducts a conversation between himself and the kitty, giving voice to the cat about how Catrine doesn’t give him enough food and how much happier he was outside when he had friends.