When traveling for business I’ve often fantasized of a hotel with a loaner-cats service.
“Yes hello, room service? I’d like to request the hummus platter a glass bottle of Gruner Veltliner, the down-alternative pillows and the tripod calico on page 12 please.”
So I was particularly intrigued when I received a tweet from the Japan Society (333 East 47th Street, NYC) saying they’d be hosting the North American premiere of the film,“Rent-A-Cat” (Rentaneko) on July 25th @7pm!
“Rent-A-Cat” is both written and directed by accomplished Japanese independent filmmaker Naoko Ogigami whose previous movies include “Toilet,” and “Glasses.” You can’t make this stuff up.
The film revolves around Sayoko, a single young woman who pulls a cart of cats around town while making her sales pitch via megaphone “Cats for rent! Are you lonely? Why not rent a cat?”
“Outwardly the most stylish, coolly self-assured cat lady ever,” writes the Japan Times, “Sayoko is inwardly a mess: wanting to marry but without a partner.” Thank goodness THAT doesn’t sound like anyone we know.
The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in May of this year where UK film blog CineVue described it as, “Tonally a million miles away from the dark subject matter of most of this year’s lineup.” But ultimately found the movie to be “a delightfully twee story of self discovery.” (Well thank you Brits for teaching me a new Scrabble word.)
The “Rent-A-Cat” trailer, while in Japanese, is still super cute. I can’t wait to check it out on the 25th. If you’re in the city, let me know and we can all meet up!
I only hope it goes better than last years “Puss In Boots” premiere during which I was hauled out into the lobby for interrogation by the studio folks because of my brilliant idea to take a picture through the 3D glasses. I was curious. I spent 10 minutes convincing them I wasn’t a spy, just stupid!
The only photo they didn’t make me delete.
NOTE: When I expressed concern about the safety of the cats, the friendly Japan Society Twitter folks informed me that in the movie potential renters do undergo a screening process. How adorably responsible of them was that!
Wish we could meet you in NY, but we checked and the Daddy doesn’t have enough miles on his card for all three of us. We’ll just have to wait for Netflix! Enjoy
Harry, Dexter and Tipp
I must see this movie!!
Frustratingly for my human, the CC (closed caption) function on YouTube merely returns a bunch of nonsense! I hope the US premier has subtitles for you non-bilingual humans. Is it coming to Los Angeles any time soon?
My human is charmed and she’s probably going to go see it although as for Sparkle’s human, she hopes there will be real subtitles.
Humans and their many languages!
Purrs
Tell your human to look for me!
Will meow that to her.
I hope she is up on her cat speak!
OK, I can’t figure out where the premiere is. HELP! LOL
This sounds wonderful!
My bad! 7pm
333 East 47th Street
yes, I want to go !
I do feel a bit sorry for the cats but I would LOVE to see this movie. Too bad I m in London – I will try and to get hold of a copy.
You are hilarious. “the down-alternative pillows and the tripod calico on page 12 please” – two things I want when traveling too! I just want my cats though, so that doesn’t work…
LOVE this and shared the video with my dear friend who is en route home for a visit right now (to Japan).
I totally love your idea to have cats at hotels.. i might actually travel more if there were.
Love those Scottish folds!
Love this…so cleverly written, T.
And I LOVE the idea of renting a cat when away on business. Surprisingly, it’ s not a new concept here in Minnesota. There’s a cute B&B in southern Minnesota called The Anderson House. (don’t know if they are still there…probably though) You can have a cat in your room if you choose!!! When I stayed there, long ago…I had a sweet little guy named Pepper. There was a cool cat apartment with glass walls that you could look though to see all the kitties.
xo
Such
Such an interesting moovie. I hope it’s available in my country.
OMC, that movie sounds really fun! We’ll have to see what we have going on that night!
Ah I would totally go see it if I was in town but that’s the one week all summer I get to leave the city, ha.
Would love a hotel that did a rent a cat. I miss my kitty when I’m gone. Like I will be in two weeks.
“Sayoko is inwardly a mess: wanting to marry but without a partner.”
We should have a club. Ha.
I wish I was going to be in the city. I would go with you for sure.
Looks like a great movie! Will be joining you for the screening!
See you there! meow