Canadian filmmakers Michael McNamara and Aaron Hancox serve up the most nakedly indulgent cat-watching documentary since Kedi (VL-11/17), following a series of regional competitive cat shows (mostly in Canada, but with a few visits to the USA) and profiling the attendant personalities—human and feline—who participate in the ritual judgings via awarded points and collecting of ribbons. While the breeds Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats make an appearance, the narrative mainly boils down to a lighthearted champion horse race—or cat race, as depicted by CGI—between Bobby, a personable Turkish Angora in his prime, and the outrageous powder-puff that is Oh La La, a striking Red Persian on the verge of aging out of competitions but who still stupefies judges. While these top cats’ respective owners, Kim and Shirley, spend a great deal of time and money chasing cat-show glory, their rivalry is healthy and convivial (no actual fur flies). The overall attitude is nicely summed up by a competitor who brings in a luxuriant white shelter-rescue cat named Maestro (who supposedly relishes classical music): the point is to share these beautiful, adored pets with as many admirers as possible, and no cat lover would fault that. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady)
Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit
(2018) 75 min. DVD: $11.99, Blu-ray: $12.99. Gravitas Ventures (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 34, Issue 5
Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit
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