This compact and intelligent documentary showcases the stray cat colonies on the island of Malta and the methods wherein human communities have shaped round them.
★★★★
Cats of Malta opens with a sequence of brief clips from interviews with many voters of the island, all of whom are discussing their relationships to the cat colonies. Spanning a variety of ages, backgrounds and occupations, even these first snapshots actually emphasise the variety of the group that has shaped round Malta’s cats. From artists to cat sanctuary staff, from youngsters to the retired, everybody within the cat group will get a say. Directed by Sarah Jayne Portelli, who additionally co-produces with Ivan Malekin, Cats of Malta has received awards at three movie festivals and been nominated at seven.
The movie largely maintains its preliminary interview format. We hear from individuals who have linked with and rescued particular person cats, group members at cat sanctuaries, and native younger folks aspiring to lift money to assist extra cats. Many of the cats are comfortable to stay strays and coexist with locals in their very own methods, whereas some want remedy and rehoming.
The movie’s cinematography is each simplistic and humorous, with pictures which can be vibrant and well-lit whereas by no means really feel too busy. The cats captured of their home environments exhibiting pure behaviours, portray an natural image of their lives on the island and exhibiting off the entire individualities and imperfections of every animal. Another sudden however satisfying component is how artwork is integrated into the movie, with amusing animations used to brighten islanders’ tales in regards to the animals and their antics.
The documentary additionally maintains narrative move all through, tending to reply its personal questions fairly than leaving free ends. An older resident will muse on whether or not attitudes in direction of the cats are altering between generations, however the subsequent interviewee might be a younger native elevating money for a trap-neuter-release scheme, successfully allaying any concern that youthful residents don’t care in regards to the cats in the identical approach. Transitions like this are efficient by way of exhibiting us that everyone is inextricably linked by their ardour for the cat colonies—interviews with individuals who have by no means met nonetheless really feel related to 1 one other.
Although the documentary reveals us a unbelievable vary of contributors to the cats’ welfare, there’s one space wherein there may very well be just a little extra nuanced. There are a number of mentions of these on the island who dislike the cats and take measures in opposition to them, and whereas after all not one of the animals must be harmed it might be fascinating to see the views of those folks included. The coexistence of individuals and feral animals is at all times going to be a dialogue with many viewpoints and a few inevitable disruption, from overpopulation to wildlife predation, and listening to these causes immediately from those that subscribe to them would make this an much more well-rounded movie.
The Verdict
Cats of Malta is an entertaining and rewarding watch that gives present commentary on cat communities and what’s being carried out to attempt to assist them. Despite successfully being an anthology of interviews, it looks like a composed narrative that offers a real reflection of the cats and other people of Malta. The filmmaking is genuine, and care has been taken to not disrupt island life throughout manufacturing. Full of optimistic dialogue about the way forward for the island’s cats, the one factor that would enhance this movie can be making that narrative right into a two-sided dialog.
Words by Casey Langton.
Cats of Malta might be obtainable to stream within the UK and Ireland from 25 September, with US distribution set for 2024.
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