Leon Morin, Priest (1961)

Original Title: Léon Morin, prêtre

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville

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

Synopsis: In France during World War II, an atheist widow named Barny (Emmanuelle Riva) decides to test Father Léon Morin’s (Jean-Paul Belmondo) beliefs and finds herself drawn to the man and his unshakable faith.

Kitty Cameo: Barny visits her friend Lucienne (Gisèle Grimm) in her country home to try to convince her to hide a Jewish family there. As they are speaking, a tabby and white cat jumps up onto a table in the foreground.

Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva with tabby and white cat on table in foreground
Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva with tabby and white cat on table in foreground
Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva with tabby and white cat on table in foreground animated gif

Purr Blurs: As Barny runs outside and prepares to cycle away, a white cat is sitting nearby.

Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva walking outside with white cat nearby

The white cat remains as Lucienne runs out after Barny to give her some lard.

Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva riding away on bike with Lucienne Gisèle Grimm chasing her and white cat nearby

Later in the film Barny rides by the home of the Lathuile family after a young woman was executed. A small cat, either a black and white cat or a calico, is sitting outside the gates as another woman with a baby carriage passes. The woman and Barny exchange a few brief words before Barney rides away.

Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva on bike outside gated home with black and white cat nearby
Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva on bike and woman pushing pram outside gated home with black and white cat nearby
Léon Morin, Priest - Barny Emmanuelle Riva on bike and woman pushing pram outside gated home with black and white cat nearby

Final Mewsings: Worshipping cats is less complicated.

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