Felidae

(1994) Directed by Michael Schaack; Written by Martin Kluger and Akif Pirinçci; Based on the novel by Akif Pirinçci; Starring: Ulrich Tukur, Mario Adorf, Helge Schneider, Wolfgang Hess, Gerhard Garbers and Klaus Maria Brandauer; Available on Blu ray and DVD 

Rating: ****

“…the book gives you the answer, because it’s a dark mystery story, and of course we didn’t want to make a film like Aristocats, because Aristocats is great and fine, but this must be something different. And with our abilities and budget, we couldn’t compete with the big-budget movies, and so we are forced to be different, and if you’re different in style, this must have been our way, and all the artists were fascinated and loved to do this.” – Michael Schaack (excerpted from 2023 interview by Dennis Bartok)

In the United States, animation is unjustly regarded by many as a children’s medium. While dark themes certainly abound in Disney’s classic films (think Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, or Pinocchio), it’s always been clear whom the intended audience is. Meanwhile some independent American animators (Ralph Bakshi, Bill Plympton, etc…) have reinforced their more adult visions on the unsuspecting public. Although animators in Europe and Japan have also created fare suitable for all ages, it seems to be common knowledge there are many stories to tell that aren’t particularly family friendly. Falling into that latter category is Michael Schaack’s Felidae* (based on a novel by Akif Pirinçci). The most expensive German animated feature to date, at 15 DM ($9 million), may have seemed a drop in the inkwell for Disney, but a monumental undertaking for Senator films. Under Schaack’s direction, the collaborative effort employed 150 animators in Hamburg, Germany, Toronto, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. 

* Fun Fact: #1 Despite the fact that an English dub was recorded for the film, Felidae never received an official release in the United States.

In the cat-centered world of Felidae, the feline characters exist in their own realm, parallel to but separate from the human world. The cats of Felidae refer to humans as “can openers,” which tells you all you need to know about how we rate with our companions (I think most fellow cat owners would back me up). Our protagonist, Francis, arrives in a new town with his layabout human companion Gustav, but unlike his sedentary two-legged friend, he roams the neighborhood as an amateur sleuth (like a feline Philip Marlowe). He befriends Bluebeard, a grizzled old cat missing an eye and a stump for a tail, who turns him on to a grisly mystery. Several cats have turned up dead, with their bodies horribly mutilated. He stumbles upon a cult dedicated to the martyr Claudandus (victim of experimentation by human scientists Preterius and Ziebald), led by the zealot Joker, who uses old lab equipment to shock his loyal followers. Haunted by the mystery of Claudandus and the ever-increasing cat deaths, he crosses paths with an assortment of friends, foes, and everything in-between, including the blind Felicity, ambivalent Kong, and enigmatic Pascal, who’s somehow linked to all the strange goings-on. As he gets closer to the sinister truth, he unravels a twisted web of sex, deception, and murder.

Michael Schaack created a library of moving cats as a guide, so the characters in the film moved like real cats (not “cartoony”). Indeed, their movement looks so fluid, one might easily confuse the film for something from Don Bluth or Disney (adult content aside). Of course, Felidae goes in a much darker direction* than either of those studios would dare. The animators also took pains to give each of the primary players distinct appearances and personalities, as befitting a mystery filled with a colorful cast of characters. The few humans depicted in the film occupy the background, while low and high-angle shots simulate the cats’ perspectives. Felidae also features an excellent score by Anne Dudley (one of the principal members of the ‘80s pop group, The Art of Noise), which contributes greatly to the films 

* Fun Fact #2: According to Schaack, the visual style was influenced by classic horror movies, particularly those from Universal.

At its heart Felidae is a noir-tinged detective story (“Cat Noir”?), filled with labyrinthine twists and turns, red herrings a-plenty, and a femme fatale. The rest might be a hard sell for some. Even those accustomed to more adult subject matter might be taken aback by the graphic depictions of feline sex, torture, vivisection and eviscerated cat corpses – all in service to the story, but it may give some viewers pause. It’s not a big surprise that Felidae underperformed at the box office in its native Germany – audiences looking for a cute escapist movie about cats likely weren’t prepared for its themes of animal experimentation and eugenics. While the film has enjoyed a second wind with an ardent cult following, the recent controversy from author Pirinçci* probably only hastened its descent into relative obscurity. Thanks to the good folks at distributor Deaf Crocodile, Felidae may yet receive its due (just a year or two ago, I never thought I’d have a UHD Blu-ray in my eager hands, but here we are), with its stunning restoration.** Superficially, it begs comparison with Watership Down (1978) or The Plague Dogs (1982), but unlike those relentlessly grim films Felidae softens the blows with a keen sense of humor (thanks to Francis’ droll observations). If you can stomach some of the more sordid aspects, it rewards upon repeat viewing, with its timeless story, relevant themes, and affable characters. 

* Not-So-Fun Fact: Despite the story’s dark themes, not-so-subtly evoking the atrocities of Nazi Germany, Akif Pirinçci irreparably undermined his career, speaking out at a 2015 far-right assembly in Dresden, with xenophobic and Islamophobic statements. 

** Fun Fact #3: According to Deaf Crocodile’s Dennis Bartok, the 4K scan of the 30-year-old original negative couldn’t have come at a better time, since it was showing signs of wear and tear, including the dreaded “vinegar syndrome.” 

 

Sources for this article: Interview with director Michael Schaack (by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile); “Teuton Fine-Tooning,” by David Molner, Variety (December 4, 1994);