Talkin’ cat tells it like it is

It may be an animated film about a French-speaking, wise-cracking cat, but Antoine Delesvaux and Joann Sfar’s The Rabbi’s Cat (2011) is no kiddie cartoon.

The Northwest Film Center will show The Rabbi’s Cat this Friday as a special screening, and the film will be screened once more Saturday as part of the 20th Portland Jewish Film Festival.

Set in early 20th-century Algeria, The Rabbi’s Cat follows the adventures of Rabbi Abraham (voiced by Maurice Bénichou) and his nameless cat (François Morel), who gains the ability to speak after eating his master’s parrot. The cat, who has a professed love for the rabbi’s daughter, Zlabya (Hafsia Herzi), appeals to his master to teach him about Judaism and provide him with a bar mitzvah.

The cat proves to be smart-assed but loyal. He ridicules matters of the faith, like the belief in a 5,000-year-old Earth, and blasphemes with laughing nonchalance. Still, he stands by his master, helping Abraham get through a French language test to maintain his position as a rabbi.

Things take a turn for the bizarre when the rabbi and his mentor find a Russian Jewish stowaway in a cargo crate. The Russian, having narrowly survived the razing of his village, proclaims that he will go to seek Jerusalem. He promises that, once there, the Jews will find racial harmony and have no fears.

The ragtag bunch that set out for Africa in search of the holy city includes the rabbi and two Russians, as well as Abraham’s nomadic, Islamic brother, Mohammed Sfar. They are, of course, joined by the talking cat. The group comes into contact with a wandering Arabic tribe, who at first welcome the Jewish pilgrims. One of the Russians, however, starts a fight that gets both himself and one of the Arabs cut down.

The pilgrims continue on their journey, making their way deeper into Africa. The Jewish Russian falls in love with an African waitress, marries her and brings her along on the journey. They cut a rough path through the mountains, eventually abandoning their vehicle, until at last they find the sought-after city.

But Jerusalem doesn’t offer the warm welcome they’d expected.

Although it’s an animated film, The Rabbi’s Cat wrestles with some heavy issues in a fairly casual manner. Religion and politics find their way onstage in moments both humorous and dead serious. The focus on the cat, with his blasé attitude toward it all, keeps the heaviness of the subject matter from becoming too oppressive.

To be sure, some of the material is a tad culture-specific, leading to moments that might seem totally inexplicable to the inexpert viewer. The basic story, however, is easily and immediately accessible, loosely draped in an allegory about the impossible search for paradise.

Visually, The Rabbi’s Cat is a real treat. The film is animated by hand (gasp!) and therefore lacks the modern touch of computer-generated graphics, which gives it an organic charm. The characters are original and well developed, each with his or her own set of quirks that complement their vibrant personalities. And the score nicely enhances the visuals, offering a medley of cultural songs to accealuate the narrative.

Be warned: It’s definitely not something to take your kids to see. But if you’re looking for a fun, witty, intelligent film, The Rabbi’s Cat might be just what you’re looking for this weekend.