The Rabbi's Cat (Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack)) (2011)

I offer a litmus test. If you adored Sylvain Chomet's "Triplets of Belleville" but were bored with "The Illusionist", this film won't work for you. Myself, I thought the colors and drawings were artistically incredible ... something like Arabic or Hindu painted miniatures. Alas, there really is not much of a story. It is instead a tale of a journey by a rabbi, his voluptuous daughter, an Arab sheikh, and a Russian who are searching for a hidden Jerusalem in Ethiopia where Blacks and Jews co-exist in peace. Along for the ride is the rabbi's "talking cat" a creature which loves arguing and commenting on everything when he's not being pampered by the rabbi's daughter. Since the rabbi is a religious man, they discuss differences in customs and spirituality and beliefs...and why that matters.

The half of the film that take place in Algiers, 1920 is simply stunning. Beautiful blue pools, Persian carpets, exotic buildings, and mosaic tiles. For that alone, I give it 4 stars. The discussions between the characters were engaging but they did become didactic after a while. One of the great moments is the decision by the cat to obtain a bar-mitzvah, and the objections of the orthodox community to such an insanity.

The major problem of the movie is lack of a coherent narrative. Perhaps that is life itself lack of a coherent narrative form speaks substance.

This is animation for adults...worth a peek!

Although released under the GKIDS label, I'm going to start out by saying that "The Rabbi's Cat" is not an animated feature for children. It is undeniably geared toward adults or, at least, teens with an awareness of the world around them. The film discusses religion, racism, and violence and is thought-provoking in a surprisingly comedic way. This feature won the César Award in France for Best Animated Film and is based on Joann Sfar's series of graphic novels. Truthfully, without knowing anything about the movie, I really didn't have a strong desire to see it. I imagined the worst when I read about a talking cat offering wit and insight into a myriad of weighty topics. But I'll watch anything, you never know where that next great surprise is going to come from! Well, for me, this was it! I absolutely loved "The Rabbi's Cat!" The movie is smart, silly, sophisticated, and scathing. There is much to admire in this 89 minute movie, and the DVD/Blu-Ray also boasts some impressive extras.

Bonus:

1) 12 page excerpt from the graphic novel. This is a neat addition, you see that the film catches both the spirit and the look of the piece to perfection.

2) Joann Star Draws From Memory: A documentary feature (just shy of an hour) that sits down with the artist and filmmaker. I didn't know anything about Sfar, but found him to be an interesting subject.

3) Making-of Featurette

4) Trailer

Also of note: Sometimes these GKIDS features or other International animated releases will have an English dub option (of which I'm not a particular fan). "The Rabbi's Cat" does not. This is a subtitled release.

"The Rabbi's Cat" is set in Algeria during the thirties. This environment is a varied mix between French, Arab, and Jewish cultures and there is an unease in this cohabitation. When a Rabbi's cat miraculously gains the power to speak to its owners, it offers humor and commentary about this diversity. His is a search for truth, for God, for faith, and for his place in the world. A surprise guest from Russia adds further depth to the discussion and soon leads the major characters on a pilgrimage across Africa to a rumored city inhabited by Jews. Much of "The Rabbi's Cat" plays out as a wacky road trip with very serious undertones. I won't reveal any spoilers, but the group encounters violence (and even bloodshed) along the way. The trip can meander, but it is in these cross cultural adventures that the film really sings with wit and insight.

In terms of the technical presentation, I really liked the fluid hand-drawn animation on display. It's quirky and oftentimes lovely to look at. But trust me, that's one ugly cat! In short, "The Rabbi's Cat," in my opinion, was thoroughly entertaining. Check it out as a seriously funny film for adults, though, do NOT pick it up for the little ones. KGHarris, 5/13.

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The Rabbi's Cat is a truly charming animated film. The story follows an elder Rabbi and his daughter living in the Sephardic Jewish community in pre-World War 2 Algeria. The eponymous cat develops the ability to speak upon devouring the Rabbi's prized Parrot and proceeds to cause no end of mischief for the family and the surrounding community.

For fans of the graphic novel by Sfar, the film stays absolutely loyal to the look, feel, and theme of the original. The film has cut some plot-lines and characters in order to fit within the standard length of a two hour movie, but this hurts the narrative much less than one might think.

The Rabbi's Cat is ultimately about identity, religion, and ethnicity and how the contradictions within those boundaries ultimately define us as people. The fim is targeted at adults with the religious and historical that are too complicated for younger children. Overall, a great film from beginning to end.

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This is a beautifully animated version of Joann Sfar's graphic novel series. The world is incredible rich, full of Jewish and African lore... both mythology and history. I would have liked the film to be longer the pace can be a little frantic, and they try to cram too much plot into a short running time. I wish the Odyssey of Africa towards the end had been done as a stand-alone sequel. Oh well, it looks good and it has got more heart and imagination than most movies. And I guess it reflects how the images and creative ideas just seem to POUR out of the mind of Joann Sfar.

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The French have a well deserved reputation for off-beat works of genius and this is one here. I will not say a word about the extraordinary plot but the typical close-to-the-nerve Jewish humour is hilarious. The animation and music is exceptional. I loved it! Treat yourself. The English subtitles move a bit fast if you do not speak French and they are a bit on the small side but I found that no impediment to a wonderful night at the movies.

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