SYNOPSIS:
Asako, a comic book artist in her early forties, is devastated by the death of her precious cat, Sava, which kept her company for over 15 years as her assistant Naomi watches on with concern. Naomi is a young woman in her early twenties, who has her set of worries about love and future. Then one day, Asako meets a new cat, Gu Gu, which brings new joy and vitality to her life. At the same time, she finds potential love in a man named Seiji. When all things are going on smoothly, Asako finds out that she is seriously ill and Naomi realizes that she and her boyfriend are drifting apart...
MOVIE REVIEW:
Ironically the movie "Gu Gu the Cat" is not exactly about Gu Gu the Cat. "Gu Gu the Cat" is actually about Gu Gu’s owner, a early forties manga (Japanese comic book) artist Asako and the people around her. With it’s quirky bohemian manner of storytelling, it touches on companionship, the end of a relationship and moving on. Surprisingly, for a movie that seems to be based on a pet (and even named after the pet), it does not apply the usual Japanese pet movie formula and avoided all those melodramatic (but very predictable) angles.
For most bulk of the movie, the focus here seems to be dabbling on the life of Asako, her works, her hectic rushing for dateline and her manga crew. It vaguely dwells on her relationship with Manga (how she started, what inspired her and how she truly felt about her works in comparisons with how her fans felt about her works) and a chance romance with a much younger guy. It even made detours to a Caucasian English teacher (who look like a 80s rocker stuck in time or Kenny G) who often breaks the fourth wall to narrate what seems like a 'off the beaten track' type of travel documentary for a Tokyo suburb (Kichijoji). There’s even a subplot about Asako’s assistant Naomi and her boyfriend which seemly does not align with the cat story at all.
With the spotlights on so many elements mention above, it’s easy to tell that every little screen time was dedicated to the title character. It’s only when Asako first met Gu Gu, brought it home and plays with Gu Gu that we are treated to all the cutesy antics that the little kitty is up to.
But it would be incorrect to say that this isn’t a pet movie as it does explore the relationship between the owner and her cat. In it’s light-handedness, it shows how pets could be one’s companion during the most loneliest time in everyday’s life. In an unexpected way, it shows how the pet might think of us and the opinion they have in our choices. In it’s limited screen time, It definitely painted an enviable picture of the close bond that Asako shared with her pet cat.
As a movie, it doesn’t really move from one point to another. In fact, Gu Gu the Cat is more of a 'hang out' movie. If you like the various eccentric characters that inhabit this movie, you will enjoy the playful shenanigans that they are up to and the time spent hanging out with their various exploits and encounters will pass quickly. You might even look forward in revisiting your friends soon and discover things that you didn’t pick up during the first time.
PS: as part of the eccentric-ness , after finding out the meaning of Asako’s cats name (Ça va and Gu Gu), it’s interesting to note that it became a form of question and answer. Rather fascinating way of coming up names for pets, don’t you think?
SPECIAL FEATURES:
None
AUDIO/VISUAL:
This dvd has fine video presentation of the Tokyo suburb that makes one interested in visiting Kichijoji soon. The audio option also did well in showing off it’s various sound effect for the comedic effects and the ear pleasing saccharine songs that were sang in this movie.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING:
Review by Richard Lim Jr
Posted on 10 July 2009
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