When the Cat's Away makes lonely hearts purr

If When the Cat's Away is one of the most original romantic comedies of this decade, it is because it does not immediately announce itself as a part of the genre.

At first, the film is more concerned with the protagonist's search for Gris-Gris, her lost cat, than with her search for Mr. Right. The quest to find Gris-Gris takes ChloŽ, our heroine, all around the nice old Parisian neighborhood near the Bastille where she lives, and allows the viewer to get to know it as well. It is a neighborhood full of people, both old and young, who upscaling is forcing to the outskirts and suburbs of the city.

More important for the film, the quest for the cat introduces the central theme of loneliness. It is loneliness that enables the mobilization of all of the old women in the neighborhood in the search for Gris-Gris. They have nobody to care for but cats, and nothing better to do than to help our heroine find hers.

Also in the ranks of the lonely cat searchers is Jamel, a rather ugly and very simple-minded but sweet guy who quickly develops a crush on ChloŽ. As she is beautiful, worldly, and reasonably intelligent, nothing can ever happen between them.

Because the film is a comedy, Zinedine Soualem's performance as Jamel is not only moving but funny, as the viewer cannot help but laugh at him at times. Even ChloŽ (Garance Clavel) is lonely, despite her many good qualities.

At the beginning of the movie there is a brief shot of ChloŽ on vacation, swimming in the Cote D'Azure, but even this small observance is enough to let the viewer know that she is alone.

For instance, the fact that her closest male friend with whom she shares an apartment is gay is a dead givaway. Although the two are close, they lack that extra degree of intimacy that only a romantic relationship can provide. ChloŽ wants to find love but cannot, thus, much of the film is dedicated to her elusive quest for Mr. Right, a search which parallels the one for the cat.

Although When the Cat's Away's subject matter could have the potential to depress a romantically unfulfilled audience of Oberlin students, the life which director CŽdric Klapisch (also the maker of the critically acclaimed Un Air de Famille) brings to his characters and setting, as well as the humor of the script, still satisfies the viewer. When the Cat's Away is a feel-good movie in the truest sense of the term.

It is not a product of the efforts of a Hollywood committee which set out to manipulate its audience; it is feel-good because it is a funny and touching romantic comedy about a theme many of us can relate to - the complexities of finding love in the modern world.

When the Cat's Away shows tonight at 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. at Kettering 11 for $1.