The Little Cat (1996) User Reviews

Thin Slice of Russian Culture

[abacus24 · 10/10 · 4 February 2002]

I saw this movie very recently and although I don't speak German or Russian, I still understood what was going on. I also found that this cute little movie entertained me on two levels. It had a great little plot that delivered a very good story about how a little cat can interact with its environment and survive. Although I have to admit I came into the movie about halfway, I really didn't feel it was totally about a little cat that became lost. The movie seemed to center on a Russian man, Fedin, who tries to survive in Moscow while still showing compassion for his cats. It then explored how his cats survived when he faced adversity. The movie also gave me a brief look at how some Russians live. They're not as sad and depressed as we are led to believe. Some of them even have money to buy Persian cats (Fedin sold his black Persian to make some money to feed his other cats). We average Americans really don't have a clue. The movie came off as an excellent Moscovian "Homeward Bound". Too bad it never made it to the masses. I'd love to find it on video!

Charming movie for kids and cat lovers

[Anna Konda · 31 July 2001]

When I first saw "The Little Cat" I had tears in my eyes at the end of it and I had to give my own two cats a very very big hug and promise them I would never get them lost in all my life.

I think this film is OK for children, the little kitten is a really cute one and the adventures it lives with it's new friends in Moscow are understandable for even the younger ones, but I recommend that parents should watch it with them together. Some scenes maybe are a bit to violent for younger children, for example when the "bad guys" are menacing the "good guy" hurting his cats, it can't be clearly seen that in fact they are NOT doing any harm to the kitten.

I can't find any production notes about this film, so I don't have any idea if during this production animals have been harmed. At least I hope they didn't, because I'd love to see this movie again but without having a bad conscience.

Another recommendation to the parents: After watching "The Little Cat", lots of children want to have a little cat of their own. But please: Don't get one if you are not REALLY SURE you want to have one. Then you don't have to throw it away like garbage when the children are tired of playing with it and don't want to have it anymore.