6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. I Am a Cat remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a quiet afternoon spent reading a dusty book, you’ll probably get a kick out of this. It’s not for the people who need a plot that moves at warp speed. If you hate dialogue-heavy dramas or are looking for a story with a traditional structure, skip it. You will likely find it tedious.
I found myself thinking about Mutts while watching, just because there is something inherently funny about putting a camera on an animal’s level. But this isn't a cartoon. It’s a bit more cynical, a bit more human.
The cat is really just an excuse to sit in the corner of the room. It’s the ultimate voyeur. Most of the humans are busy being pompous, academic, or just plain weird. The cat just watches them stumble through their lives.
There’s a specific scene where the teacher is trying to act superior, and the camera cuts to the cat just licking its paw. It’s perfect. It highlights how little the humans actually matter.
I think the film struggles to keep the momentum going in the second half. It sort of drifts. Like a cat wandering off to find a sunny spot to sleep, the story loses interest in its own points. Does it matter? Maybe not. It feels like a real, slightly uneven memory.
If you’ve seen Pasteur or other period pieces from that era, you’ll recognize the way they handle the historical setting. It feels authentic, even if it feels a little claustrophobic. It’s not trying to be grand. It’s just trying to be a slice of life. Sometimes, that’s enough. 🐱