by Mark Murton
Directed by: Alice Winocour
Synopsis: French astronaut Sarah Lareau (Eva Green) is the only woman on the arduous training program at the European Space Agency in Cologne. She lives alone with her eight-year-old daughter Stella (Zélie Boulant), having separated from her father Thomas, and feels guilty that she cannot spend more time with her daughter. When Sarah is chosen to join the crew of the year-long International Space Station Proxima mission it places further strain on the delicate mother-daughter relationship.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Laika, a ginger tabby cat (named after the first dog in space), first appears on the kitchen table with her head in a glass water jug as she tries to reach the liquid at the bottom.
Hearing Sarah come into the kitchen she quickly withdraws her head.
Sarah puts her hand out to her and then picks her up before placing her on the floor and putting food in her bowl.
Laika is next seen when a TV crew arrives to interview Sarah, and Stella is watching from the window seat holding Laika on her lap.
When it comes time for Sarah to leave for Russia and the next stage of her training she takes Stella and Laika to stay with Stella’s father Thomas. Laika is sitting serenely in her cat carrier on the back seat of the taxi beside Stella.
It’s only when Stella starts talking to her and telling not to worry that Laika looks worried!
Arriving at the block of flats where Thomas lives, Sarah removes the cat carrier.
Inside Thomas’s flat, Stella searches for Laika and finds her outside on the balcony.
Hearing children playing below with their parents Stella watches through the railings where she is joined by the equally curious Laika.
Before she leaves, Sarah puts Stella to bed and when Stella asks where Laika is she reassures her by telling her, “Dad gave her some food . . . she’s fine.” And we have to assume she is because she isn’t seen again.
Final Mewsings: Cats don’t like moving but prefer it to space travel.
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