by Mark Murton

Directed by: Wayne Wang

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

Synopsis: Through a series of flashbacks, four young Chinese women born in America and their respective mothers, born in feudal China who emigrated to America, bond and learn to understand each other.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the section of the film concentrating on Ying Ying St. Clair (France Nuyen) and her daughter Lena (Lauren Tom), Ying Ying goes to visit Lena at the new apartment she shares with her husband Harold (Michael Paul Chan) and learns that her daughter is unhappy with her relationship, in part because of the financial arrangement she has with Harold over the way they split the costs of their life. This is highlighted in scenes with Lena’s Exotic Shorthair ginger tabby cat which start with the cat walking across a shelf, stopping briefly to sniff at a framed photo of the couple.

The cat jumps onto the counter as Harold unpacks some shopping, pausing briefly to bat at a shampoo bottle.

The cat continues across the counter towards some packs of meat.

At this point Lena scoops up the cat and holds her as they both scowl at Harold.

Lena retires to a chair where she sits smoothing the cat. Harold’s priorities are revealed when he asks, “Isn’t there a generic brand cat food? I mean do they know the difference, for crying out loud?”

Lena follows this with her own complaint: “You gave her to me as a birthday gift and now you want me to pay to get rid of fleas?” These arguments over the cat are mentioned again later but the cat herself is not seen again. While not mentioned by name in the film, the cat’s name in the book is Mirugai, which translates to giant clam.

Final Mewsings: Anyone lucky enough to have a cat knows the joy they bring.

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