Kitty (2016) User Reviews (3)

Cute

[ReganRebecca · 7/10 · 9 December 2016]

This unbelievably cute film is exactly what it describes in the plot; a little girl, who is ignored by her parents and neighbours, turns into a kitten.

Not much too it other than that but it is absolutely sweet and a little heartbreaking for such a simple story. The style is very much in the vein of Sofia Coppola and Wes Anderson so while it's not exactly groundbreaking it perfectly suits the whimsical nature of the story being told.

Features some of the best acting from a cat I've ever seen. The animal wrangler for the film deserves props.

Great debut short from actress turned director Sevigny. I hope she goes more directing in the future.

Does not deliver as much depth and artistry as it wants to

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 14 September 2018]

"Kitty" is an American 15-minute live action short film from 2016, so still not too old actually and this one is in fact the first effort in terms of writing and directing by Oscar-mnominated actress Chloë Sevigny, who is in her 40s now. The title gives away a whole lot already. This is about cats, well partially. Actually, it is about a girl named Kitty (yeah not too great choice to name her that) who wants to be a cat and as the film goes on we not only get to witness her transformation, but also how she is strolling through the neighborhood as a cat in fact and ends up with her mother eventually. It is not really about the why and that is perfectly fine, why she wants to be it, why she has the capability to transform or if it is forever, but there just feels something not right. They story per se isn't bad, but it somehow feels like it would have needed a more sensitive approach, a more artistic tendency and more attention to detail. This would have been an amazing film for example with Spike Jonze in charge of the script and camera. But for Sevigny it may have been too much for a rookie project. I also felt that the soundtrack was distracting at times and just too much and as a consequence what you saw in here was overshadowed by what you heard. A bit of a pity all in all really as like I said I certainly felt like this could have turned out way better, but instead what stays in the mind the most is the awkward and pretty bizarre transformation scene which could have fit in better for a horror movie. Most known cast member here is Lee Meriwether and even if she appears only very briefly, it's a hilarious little cameo given her career-defining role. That's all I guess. Overall, the negative is sadly more frequent than the positive and this is a rather forgettable work. Watch something else instead.

Fine fleeting feline fantasy film

[I_Ailurophile · 9/10 · 19 June 2021]

As someone who wishes she were a cat, this short really resonates with me.

Chloë Sevigny's directorial debut is a swell demonstration of the skills she has cultivated over a career in film-making. 'Kitty' is a modern day fantasy film, and feels like perhaps the most realistic portrayal of what such a transformation might look like.

It's a small tale centering a young girl, more or less told from her perspective, and as such it very much has the feel of an abbreviated children's fantasy-adventure film (a la 'Tuck everlasting,' 'James and the giant peach,' and so on). This is furthered by the vivid natural light and otherwise treatment in the production that casts the feature in a slight hazy gloss.

Adapted for the screen by Sevigny herself from Paul Bowles' 1980 story, 'Kitty' is an uncomplicated tale, but is ably conveyed here. The cast perform well in their limited roles, and it's a wonderfully cheeky surprise for Lee Meriwether to play a part. The wardrobe is sufficient, and the prosthetics at work in the first few minutes of the short are particularly noteworthy, marking the protagonist's transformation.

The second aspect of 'Kitty,' following full flip to feline, strikes a tone one would generally not expect from such a film. Even being largely bereft of dialogue, the brief narrative is told well in the scenes and shots Sevigny arranges. The cat itself is of course a primary draw of the short, and - naturally, it's adorable, and great fun to watch.

I could have done with the inclusion of more cats or cat footage generally, but such is life. The ending is sweet and heartwarming, effectively concluding the story.

Quick and simple as it is, 'Kitty' is a delightful short - a great exercise of Chloë Sevigny's capabilities, and a swell diversion for 15 minutes. Recommended especially for cat lovers, obviously, but worth a quick watch for anyone should you come across it.