Un jour un chat

What a curious movie this is. Ostensibly a family film - silly, ham-handed, and fantastical - there are small moments or ideas here and there (particularly interactions between men and women) that are more adult in nature. We get classic themes for such fare, including but definitely not limited to (a) expression and individuality set against notions of strict, regimented order and conformity, and (b) the underhanded ways people's true selves are revealed - themes that are somehow both amplified and somewhat twisted into a different shape in light of additional context. After all, 'Az prijde kocour' is also a bit of a time capsule - made in a country that no longer exists, and under the auspices of Soviet governance, with these origins apparent in small clues like passing dismissal of "formalism," or discussion or intimation of what does or does not meet the standards of approved work, art, or Truth, and still more subtly in the mayor's remarks about Tabby, or Oliva's favored pastime that so slyly echoes less innocent observation. Meanwhile, there's a bombastic theatricality to the presentation that makes one ponder how, were this a Hollywood production, it would almost certainly be a musical, or at least kin to live-action Disney features of the same period. And still all this is to say nothing of what may be the greatest curiosity, which is to say a decidedly unbothered sense of plot - its disparate threads, its development. I do quite enjoy this, but given the curious flavors here, I'm not entirely sure who I would even recommend it to!

This much is certain: 'Az prijde kocour' is wonderfully imaginative, charming in its somewhat gauche playfulness. Archetypal story ideas are teased out into curious directions with the addition of one very special cat and one very special set of spectacles, and the whimsy extends to the details of most every character and scene as written and executed. My commendations to filmmaker Vojtech Jasny and co-writers Jiri Brdecka and Jan Werich, for they have whipped up a splendid fancy that at once or in turns blends fantasy, children's stories, more adult conceptions of humor, romance, art-house conceits, and some overtones of the sociopolitical atmosphere in 1960s Czechoslovakia. If that's not an odd mixture, I don't know what is. Yet it works unexpectedly well, resulting in a viewing experience that's both peculiar and highly entertaining in its own offbeat way. And even at that, for everything that this is and represents, it's also impressively smart and well made. The best of the effects are pointedly inventive, while the worst are no more terrible than being on par with those of this picture's contemporaries. The production design and art direction are all around excellent, as are all other contributions of those behind the scenes including editing and cinematography, and the cast likewise embody their characters with gratifyingly spirited performances. Again, this really is quite well done.

One should note a content warning for themes of animal cruelty that are central to the plot, and especially prevalent in some scene writing and dialogue. I would argue, too, that the felines appearing in the film receive treatment at some points that, while not abjectly awful, does not comport with modern standards of how animals should be handled or cared for. This isn't to say that the feature couldn't be made in 2022, but some scenes would surely look a little different than they do here. Still, this is part and parcel of the story at hand, and film-making typical of the era - and rest assured that in accordance with such fare, all is well in the end. Ultimately this is a little bit of a strange ride, with a swirl of ideas and tones that one wouldn't expect to fit together. For all that, though, it's unmistakably fun, and worth exploring not just on its own merits but also as a tiny peek behind the "curtain," if you will, at Czechoslovakia in the 60s. It's worth mentioning, as a bonus for fans of Werner Herzog, that both this and his 1979 picture 'Woyzeck' were filmed in the same Czech town. At length, whether one is an especial fan of cats, or international cinema, or just looking for something a tad out of the ordinary but light, 'Az prijde kocour' is a weird but refreshing title, a fine way to spend 100 minutes if you have the opportunity.

This is probably one of the best movies ever made. And it is not excellent because of the acting or the production, after all it is one example of the early czech cinema and the spring revolution. The film is important for story it tells. This is a exemplary evaluation of human behavior as observed by an estranged cat, who is only capable of watching human beings by what they really are. I have tried to get a copy of this film for decades (I watched first time as a 12-year-old kid and again in College in the early 1970s). A gem!!!

A psychedelic look at human nature and the different desires that each person in a small village have. A cat that is accompanied by a circus troupe enters a small village and exposes what each person feels by showing them in different colors of emotions. Many in this small village are selfish and self centered except for the romantic teacher. The director uses a range of colors to show the different elements of human behavior. The teacher played by Vlastimil Brodsky is a hopeless romantic that falls in love with Cassandra, a member of the performing circus.

Az Prijde Kocour/Cassandra Cat(1963) is for everyone of different age groups. The children see the cat as the bearer of truth and the giver of unlimited imagination. The adults in the village see the cat as a threat because they are fearful of that truth that sees beneath the lies. The only adult who is not threatened by the cat is the romantic teacher. The cinematography is excellent and the music is good.

Cassandra Cat(1963) is not very different from the films of Terry Gilliam especially Time Bandits(1981), and Brazil(1985). The romantic angle of Az Prijde Kocour(1963) reminds me in many ways of similar scenes in Brazil(1985). Cassandra Cat(1963) is an ageless film by one of the masters of the Czech New Wave, Vojtech Jasny. The ending of the motion picture is sad. Emilia Vasaryova is arousing and sweet natured in the role of Cassandra.

If seeing through someone's lies and deceit was as simple as the color they were projecting. Such is the case for this movie, which I watched under the title "The Cassandra Cat." In a small town in Czechoslovakia, a teacher is conveying the beauty of free thought, expression and art to his class, something that does not go over too well with the rigid and conservative hierarchy of the school's leadership. The teacher tells his kids about a cat with the ability to see through the veneer of someone's outer deception, painting them in vivid colors which clash mightily against the drab and cold backdrop of the town.

During this time, a lot of changes were happening in Czechoslovakia, especially from a social standpoint as the tenets of Soviet communism clashed with a desire for national democratic socialism. These sort of things happen when your country falls into an economic stagnation, which is visualized in the film as no one seems to really live a comfortable life. Ultimately, this film didn't see much of an audience for years as the country decided to keep its more rigid outlook on economics and free thought. Hence, this is why the film is so divisive.

The Cassandra Cat, as was once described in an old magazine many years ago, sees through the "bulls**t" that many people are projecting. If you take the glasses off the cat, your true colors come out so to speak. Red if you are in love, yellow if you are unfaithful, purple if you are a hypocrite and gray if you are dishonest. So yes, it would be quite scary to see this cat come into your town even under the guise of a whimsical performance troupe.

Ultimately, this movie speaks about the frailty of the human condition and how malleable it can be. As the final scene showcases, a person can change colors quite easily, especially when it comes to the less desirable colors of the Cassandra Cat's gaze. Only those with the purest of hearts can be the red color. Either way, its a great film to watch, witnessing how other countries were going through similar political and social turmoil like the United States.

And for all intents and purposes, the cat was adorable.

In a small town in Czechoslovakia, the old story teller Oliva (Jan Werich) likes to plant fantasy in the brains of the children. Presently he tells the story of his former love and her magic cat, which wears glasses, to the class of the beloved and romantic teacher Robert (Vlastimil Brodský). When someone takes the glasses off, the cat shows the real feelings and personality of the person: red for those in love, purple for the hypocrites, yellow for the unfaithful and gray for the dishonest. Then, a coach arrives in town, bringing a magician (Jan Werich), the beautiful Diana (Emília Vásáryová) and the magic cat. The real feelings of the mostly selfish population are exposed, generating confusion, and the evil school director (Jirí Sovák) and the school janitor (Vladimir Mensik) decide to eliminate the cat. The students of Robert join forces to save the cat and the job of their teacher.

This beautiful and fantastic fable about human behavior is timeless and very original. The story has a great moral lesson in the end without being corny, and is highly recommended for all audiences. In Brazil, it is only available in a rare VHS. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): 'Um Dia, Um Gato' ('One Day, A Cat')

Note: On 12 June 2010, I saw this magnificent film again on DVD.