by Mark Murton

Original Title: Trautmann

Directed by: Marcus H. Rosenmüller

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

Synopsis: The true story of Bert Trautmann (David Kross), a German POW with a talent for football goalkeeping, and young Englishwoman, Margaret Friar (Freya Mavor), who together overcame prejudice, public hostility and personal tragedy.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): While delivering produce to the prison camp, local grocer Jack Friar (John Henshaw) spots Bert’s potential and contrives to get him playing for his local, relegation-threatened football team despite opposition from many in the community, including members of his own family. Jack arrives home after the team’s first victory with Bert in the goal position to find his daughters, Margaret and Barbara (Olivia-Rose Minnis), playing Ludo with the family’s British shorthair cat, Presley, in close attendance.

Presley continues to prowl the room as Margaret starts to argue with Jack about letting “a Nazi” play in the team. Jack ends the conversation by informing Margaret that Bert will also be starting work in the family shop the following week. Margaret storms off leaving a bemused Barbara playing with Presley.

Bert duly starts working for Jack while Margaret does her best to ignore him. Bert has better luck winning Barbara over, especially when he makes her a pair of stilts which she tries out in the yard where Presley is seen wandering around.

Margaret slowly thaws towards Bert and as they start get to know each other Presley never seems to be far away.

All is well until Jack learns the POWs are to be sent home just before the match that will decide whether his team is relegated or not and as he rages to the family about it Presley is sitting on the sofa beside Barbara.

To the family’s relief Bert decides he will stay on in England and the Friar’s invite him to a celebratory meal. Naturally Presley lurks nearby as the food is brought to the table.

Kitty Cameo: Years pass and Bert and Margaret are now married with a young son, John (Tobias Masterson), who is at the family home with a ginger tabby cat sitting nearby on an armchair.

The cat watches as Margaret comes into the room to answer the phone.

The Animal Wrangler on the film was Christoph Kappel and the Animal Handler was Kenny Gracey.

Final Mewsings: Both of these cats look like keepers to us.

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