Remastered Czech Film from 1963 Offers Whimsy and Cool Cats in Spades

Under the tutelage of the Czech National Archive, a Czech New Wave classic was recently unearthed and remastered in its original image. The Cassandra Cat—originally released in 1963 under the title When The Cat Comes—has since re-shown at the Cannes Film Festival and made its way to American theaters for a new adoring audience to find. 

This bold modern fairy tale features a tabby cat in sleek sunglasses, which may be enough of a hook for any intrigued viewer. For those who need a little more to tune in,  the allegorical story is a standout for its visionary effects, playful feel, and tender approach to storytelling. 

The Cassandra Cat opens like most other fairy tales, with a “Once upon a time… This really happened,” uttered by our faithful tour guide Oliva, who’s just one of a few characters played by Jan Werich. From there, Werich gives the audience a rundown on the small, nondescript village inhabited by some regularly seen folks—the gossip, the drunk—while providing insight into the interpersonal relationship playing out between school teacher Robert (Vlastimil Brodský) and his girlfriend (Jiřina Bohdalová). Like any other place, the village is filled with adults disguising their own moral character via lies to clients, coworkers, bosses, and lovers. 

The story attaches itself to Robert, who’s characterized as sensitive, caring, and forthright in his unconforming beliefs. As an instructor, he constantly challenges the rigid structure laid out by the school’s director, who seeks to limit creativity, opposing thought, and ultimately the bounds of life. Principal Karel (Jiří Sovák) would rather show children how nature works through lifeless taxidermy animals, including a stork he shot out of the sky in the middle of the town’s square in the beginning of the film—to Robert’s disdain. 

In the classroom, Robert instead encourages his students to think about what they would like to change about their small village. He highlights the need for a life focused on friendship, honesty, and never “bend[ing] to other people’s will.” His humanity makes him a favorite of the children and a constant target from authority. He’s the moral focal point of The Cassandra Cat, and his belief in not adhering to the wishes of others will be tested soon enough.

A scene in which Karel chastises  Robert during his lively painting lesson with Oliva is soon interrupted by the sounds of jovial brass music, causing everyone in the town to drop what they’re doing and pour onto the streets. As if summoned by the story Oliva told the children during their painting lesson of a lovely young girl and her cat with sunglasses, the duo themselves roll into town accompanied by a magician (also played by Werich), and a band fully cloaked in black. Robert catches the eye of the mysterious Diana (Emilie Vasáryová), who holds the spectacled cat (named Mourek) close. 

The second act of The Cassandra Cat is made up of two extended sequences, starting with a very telling magic show for the whole town. This is the magician’s opportunity to air out the population's dirty laundry, bringing to life the behind-the-scenes debauchery for everyone to see. 

The magic show provides an array of astounding practical effects, lulling the town and film’s audience into a trance. It’s here the magician exposes that Karel is cheating on his wife with Robert’s girlfriend, who works at the school as a secretary. The town is given just enough time to ingest the story’s meaning before a red-clad Diana gets to the main act. Looming above the audience, Diana takes off the cat’s sunglasses, whose perceptive eyes sum up the moral character of the town’s populace by coating people in according colors (yellow for the unfaithful, gray for thieves, violet for liars, snitches, and careerists, and red for those in love). Robert bursts into red as his budding love for Diana comes into fruition. 

Chaos quickly ensues as people begin taking on their true colors, exposing their own misdeeds to those around them. Jasný leans into play and dance to portray unspoken messages, as well as cultivate havoc while people bumble around as if controlled by unseen forces. The colors are boldly saturated, creating a kaleidoscope of yellow, purple, red, and gray, which has a dizzying effect as they melt into each other. A lot of credit is due to cinematographer Jaroslav Kučera for bringing The Cassandra Cat to a truly magical and celluloid place. 

Amidst the mayhem, a wily Mourek leaps from Diana arms, running into the town. Then begins the manhunt for the clairvoyant cat, some looking out for his well being, and others looking to put an end to his insightful abilities. 

The search takes us through the enchanting countryside surrounding the town as Jasný uses the location’s inherent beauty to his full advantage, adding to the mysticality and wonder of the story. The idyllic scenery further detaches the village from the real world, allowing it to freely exist in a more imaginative place where cats have powers, day turns to night in the blink of an eye, and magic has real-life implications. 

The pressures soon begin to mount on Robert to fall in line with Karel’s leadership and put out the flames of dissent lit by Mourek’s talent. The children’s hero is then put to task to follow his own teachings and stand up for what he believes in, no matter the cost. His students soon stage a disappearing act after they see both Mourek and Robert mistreated by Karel, promising to return only when the two are guaranteed safety. 

Jasný gives the ultimate perception to the young children, who see the adults around them for who they are, similar to the cat they adore so much. It’s they who act as the moral compass for the community, and challenge those who supposedly hold power in the community and their homes. Their allegiance to one special cat and their kindhearted teacher provide the most emotionally potent scenes of The Cassandra Cat, as they gleefully carry Mourek through the town and when they return to their beloved teacher in the final scene. The children’s adoration is moving and provides a testimony to the power of friendship, honesty, and refusing to bend to the will of others. 

The Cassandra Cat ultimately operates as a political allegory, calling out hypocrisy of public officials claiming the moral high ground under the communist regime in place in Czechoslovakia at the time. Though specific to a time and place, The Cassandra Cat has magic to offer to anyone willing to listen to suspend belief and incite childlike anarchy in themselves and others.