A Parisian cat leads a secret double life as a jewel thief's accomplice
In short: By day, Dino is a quiet pet for a mute girl in Paris. By night, he prowls the rooftops with a burglar, navigating a dangerous criminal underworld. This stylish, hand-drawn animated feature blends noir suspense with emotional depth, earning an Academy Award nomination for its unique, Hitchcockian take on adventure.
Released in 2010, the film Une vie de chat—known internationally as A Cat in Paris—was produced by the French animation house Folimage. Directed by the creative duo Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol, the project stands out for its distinct, hand-drawn aesthetic. Critics have noted its visual flair, often comparing the dynamic, retro-inspired title sequences to the work of graphic designer Saul Bass. The film runs a brisk 64 minutes, a length that reviewers suggest helps distill its noir atmosphere into a tight, engaging experience for viewers.
The narrative centers on a black cat with red stripes who divides his time between two worlds. During the daylight hours, he resides with a young girl named Zoé, who has stopped speaking following the death of her father. Her mother, Jeanne, is a police superintendent obsessed with capturing the criminal Victor Costa, the man responsible for her husband's demise. Unbeknownst to them, the cat spends his nights assisting a burglar named Nico, who uses the feline to help pull off high-stakes jewel heists across the city.
The plot converges when the cat inadvertently links the girl's family to the criminal underworld. After Zoé discovers her nanny is secretly working for Costa, she is drawn into a dangerous confrontation at the top of Notre Dame. The film balances these high-stakes thrills with the emotional journey of the family, ultimately leading to a resolution where the thief reforms and the girl finds her voice. It received generally favorable reviews, with an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was praised for projecting a sense of danger that feels more grounded than typical high-pitched animated fare.
The film's international reach began with its premiere at the Saint-Quentin Ciné-Jeune Film Festival in October 2010. It was later distributed across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Despite being relatively obscure in the United States prior to its recognition by the Academy, the film has been lauded for its wonderful soundtrack and its ability to successfully adapt noir tropes for a younger audience.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: A Cat in Paris
- Also: A Cat in Paris
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