Rina, a beautiful girl is roaming the streets before she reaches a hip apartment, where a young man receives her. The two of them used to be a couple but they broke up, and now the girl is in his apartment in order to pick up the cat, since the guy seems to be allergic to it. The interaction is very civil, but at one point, the girl allows the cat to get out of the apartment and the two of them start chasing it. The reasons behind their break up soon come forward, and their civility gives its stead to something different, even physical, particularly since another common acquaintance, a girl, appears, who seems to be something more than just a friend now.
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Shinobu Imao directs a short where the narrative seems to revolve almost completely around the cat, both literally and metaphorically. In that fashion, Rina roams the streets just like a cat. Her ex-boyfriend acts like a cat, needing constant affection but immediately finding someone else to receive it from when Rina breaks up with him. The fact that both he and his new girlfriend are allergic to cats, seems to be a metaphor for his break up with Rina, who, in essence, identifies with the cat, even lashing out like one when she feels hurt.
This approach does wonders for the film as it communicates Imao’s social comments about people and relationships in the most adorable and sensitive way. The mellow pace of the film and the romantic/nostalgic music also move towards the same direction, resulting in a very entertaining movie that also benefits the most by Motola Serena‘s performance as Rina, as much as the rest of the cast who seem to resonate with the general aesthetics of the film, perfectly.
The sole flashback in the film is well-placed and the ending gives a sense of closure to both, Rina and the narrative, and in that regard, I can easily say I did not find a single fault with this short. I would definitely like to watch Shinobu Imao directing a full feature, with cats or without.
