By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — The Rabbi’s Cat, an animated French-language, English-subtitled film playing in a limited engagement at Landmark’s Hillcrest Theatre from Friday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 24, is an adventure story in which a talking cat, his rabbi master, an Arab sheikh, an exiled czarist Russian and a Russian Jewish painter set out from Algeria to find the real Jerusalem, somewhere, perhaps, in Ethiopia.
Based on a graphic novel by Joann Sfar, this madcap story — written from an insider’s perspective and filled with Jewish minhagim — is an astonishingly humorous little epic, which you will want to watch more than once — perhaps several times — to make certain that you caught every little joke, and insight, as the subtitles sped by.
Don’t get the idea that because it is animated this film is for little children; to the contrary, it’s philosophical arguments (between the cat and two different rabbis) may go over many an adult’s head, and how could a film even be French without an exploration or two of l’amour? The talking cat who has no name, lusts for the rabbi’s daughter, and to win her love, demands that he be permitted to have a bar mitzvah.
The Russian Jewish painter falls in love and marries a waitress he meets somewhere in Africa. Even as the white and black couple must triumph over racism, the rest of the traveling party (including the Sufi sheikh and the rabbi) must also contend with Islamic fanaticism — all of this made to seem somewhat other-worldly through arresting cartoon images.
Besides the travelers, there are some other remarkable characters in this film, which one senses could easily be converted into a delightful television series–if only there were an audience for an unapologetic, occasionally sardonic, exploration of almost everything made no longer sacred.
Zlabya, the rabbi’s teenage daughter, is wide eyed and voluptuous, and an elderly cousin, Leon Malka, is a commanding presence as he strides into town with a lion at his side. But their roles are only to wait at home for the adventurers to return. Shades of Balaam, there is even a talking donkey in this fantasy.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
As the author is from Belgium, my friend Eve gave me the book in French which I later purchased in English. Wonderful books. I wish I could have seen the movie with you.