Le Chat (film)

Le Chat (, "The Cat") is a 1971 French-language drama film directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre and based on Georges Simenon's 1967 novel The Cat. It recounts the story of an elderly married couple, Julien Bouin, a former typographist, and his wife Clemence, who used to perform in a circus, who have been loathing each other for years. They hardly talk to each other in their small house, soon to be demolished. Their only form of communication being occasional notes on scraps of paper. A stray cat being the only one he still gives affection to, the cat becomes the object of Clemence's anger. However, they are soon to understand that they cannot live without each other. The storyline of The Cat is speculated to have originated from Georges Simenon's difficult relationship with his mother.

Cast

 * Jean Gabin as Julien Bouin
 * Simone Signoret as Clémence Bouin
 * Annie Cordy as Nelly, owner of a Florida hotel
 * Jacques Rispal as Le docteur / Doctor
 * Nicole Desailly as L'infirmière / Nurse
 * Harry-Max as Le retraité / Retiree
 * André Rouyer as Le délégué / Delegate
 * Carlo Nell as L'agent immobilier / Real-estate agent
 * Yves Barsacq as L'architecte / Architect
 * Florence Haguenauer as Germaine
 * Renate Birgo as La crémière / Dairywoman
 * Ermanno Casanova as Le patron du café / Café owner (as Ermano Casanova)
 * Georges Mansart as Le garçon à la moto / Boy on a motorcycle
 * Isabel del Río as La fille à la moto / Girl on a motorcycle

Awards

 * 21st Berlin International Film Festival
 * Silver Bear for Best Actress (Simone Signoret - won)
 * Silver Bear for Best Actor (Jean Gabin - won)
 * Golden Bear (nominated)