Chat écoutant la musique

While not a particularly bleak filmmaker, most of Chris Marker's films certainly do not reach the peak of calm, kindheartedness as this simplistic and brief documentary short. The title is self explanatory, all the three minute film is is a cat listening to music, and it's beautiful. Not only is the cat adorable, but the music he listens too is calming and powerful. This is a moving meditation on peace and happiness, a film that does not require the hassle of analysis or even thought, instead it is just a work made up of enjoyably cute and delightful imagery. Marker's camera-work and editing embody that of an unpretentious, smile inducing, and delightful art-house film that has decided to lay off the complex metaphors and instead relax and relish in love and good spirits.

With YouTube, internet and blogs everywhere nowadays, the idea of a movie like this is ridiculous because there's plenty of similar posted on the net. But au contraire. This was made way back in a time those hipsters videos didn't exist, gifs weren't made about it and posted later on which makes viewing "Cat Listening to Music" more interesting now. Instead it was more like a home made movie created with the purpose of amusing a family or even a small crowd in theaters.

Chris Marker, mostly known for "La Jetée" and "Sans Soleil" films Guillaume-en-Egypte, a dappled cat calmly sleeping over a piano and reacting each time he hears the different sounds coming from another piano coming from a radio playing a melancholic tune. Sometimes he places his paws on the keyboard but he's more interested in hearing the music next to him. Sleepy most of the time but always attentive and aware of what's happening in the room.

Like I said there's thousands like this (and better, there's cats playing songs now) but I'd like to think Mr. Marker predicted a future trend. It's like one of those Warhol experiments where you absorb a common image which reflects much more than just a simple act. And let's face it, there's nothing more cool than watching a cat doing stuff and being adorable as they usually are. 10/10