French cine-essayist Chris Marker reflects on French and international
politics, art and culture at the start of the 21st century and links his
peregrinations by tracing the mysterious appearances of a cartoonish grinning
cat throughout the streets of Paris in this witty and thought-provoking
piece. The film chronicles strikes, demonstrations, memorials, election
campaigns, celebrity scandals, international political incidents, and a
seemingly endless variety of protests (against the Iraq War, against China's
occupation of Tibet, against the government's ban on the wearing of Musilim
headscarves). The ubiquitous grinning cat eventually begins to appear amidst
the banners at the political demonstrations, echoing the May '68 slogan
that "La poésie est dans la rue" ("Poetry is in the street"). BetaSP
video projection.
more at frif.com
2006, color, 0 hours 58 minutes, France