By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Carlos Sorin
Starring: Alejandro Javier Bures | Emma Jayne Carlton | Gisela Aringoli | Maria Abadi | Norma Argentina
Original language title: El gato desaparece
Country: argentina
Year: 2012
Running time: 90
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1841584/
Bruce says: “THE CAT VANISHES was the film I was most looking forward to at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival. It should probably surprise no one that it was my least favorite – that’s how things work sometimes. Too bad, since I had very much liked director Carlos Sorin’s prior film BOMBÓN: EL PERRO. Sorin introduced his film by telling the audience it was not a thriller, just a game. Judging by my reaction, the questions at the Q & A and the comments from other attendees as they exited the theater, not one person was sure what the game was
“Luis (Luis Luque) is a well-regarded academic who suddenly attacked his assistant of many years because he allegedly stole Luis’ research accumulated over many years, which was to be the basis for a major publication. As the film opens, Luis is being released from a mental institution where he had been heavily medicated for months after the incident. His wife Elisabeth (Emma Jayne Carlton) is given many medications by Dr. Anaya (Hugo Sigman) and strict instructions on how to administer them. She is a nervous wreck over fears of the unknown; perhaps she will never have her old husband back. When Dr. Anaya
explains to Luis, ‘You have had a mental breakdown from too much work,’ Luis remarks, ‘That almost sounds like praise.’ Their children are of little help: their daughter Verónica (Maria Abadi) is a self-absorbed actress and Martin (Matías Tapia) their son is far away in Seattle working for Microsoft.
“Betty and Luigi are the pet names the couple has for one another during intimate moments. Things don’t go well the first few days. When Luis tries to access his bank information on his computer, he learns he is no longer authorized. ‘I’m handling the bank, Luigi,’ Betty says comfortingly. The phone rings; there is no answer. The cat attacks him brutally when he leans down to pick it up. ‘I feel they’re drugging me,’ Luis frets. Betty spurns Luigi’s lovemaking advances, ‘Give me time, Luigi.’ The cat disappears and Betty is wondering if Luigi has something to do with it. Betty becomes edgy and drops the coffee pot when Luigi grabs her from behind. Betty books a trip to Paraty, Brazil, a colonial beach resort town south of Rio de Janiero. later, Betty pays
a visit to Dr. Anaya and asks, ‘Is he cured? Will he do it again?’ Dr. Anaya convinces her that her anxiety is normal. He assures her that Paraty is exactly the right move. After the couple leaves for Brazilthe maid makes an alarming and somewhat inexplicable discovery. Game over.
“With the exception of the two leads, all the actors are non-professional. The psychiatrists are actually real doctors. The dramatic tension between two people whose relationship is altered due to mental illness is handled beautifully. So much about the film flows smoothly, that is until the end when the director leaves his audience dangling. It is impossible to imagine what the director’s intention could have been. 3 cats
“(THE CAT VANISHES screened at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival.)”