Cineriz
Starring: Susan Strasberg, Gianni Garko
Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo

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

Synopsis: A Jewish girl named Edith barely escapes being gassed in a concentration camp and then does whatever she must to survive, even if it means being hated by her fellow prisoners.

Kitty Cameo: The S.S. at the camp own a black cat named Faust. He is first seen inside with them in their recreation area just before Edith, now known as Nicole (Susan Strasberg) enters for the first time.

Later a group of Russian soldiers arrive at the camp as prisoners. As they talk to the female prisoners, Nicole enters carrying the cat. Since she is now a Kapo, she has special privileges and is hated as much as the regular guards by the women.

One of the prisoners is named Karl (Gianni Garko) and he assures the women that liberation is on the way soon. “And that day we’ll skin him alive and dip him in vinegar,” a prisoner named Georgette promises. “Who?” Karl asks. “Faust!” all the women answer as they laugh.

Nicole overhears them and tells Georgette she’d better watch herself.

As the women get back to work, Nicole stands in the doorway. Karl approaches her and pets the cat, asking if he is Faust.

Karl then looks at the cat’s collar and asks what it says. “Touch Faust and you’re dead,” Nicole explains. “Did the S.S. write that?” Karl asks. When Nicole says yes he comments, “They’re nice to kitties.”

Kitty Carnage Warning!  Later in the film Georgette calls Nicole over to a barrel and pulls out the dead body of Faust, saying she found him like that. Georgette drops the cat to the ground.

Final Mewsings: Don’t judge cats by the company they keep!

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