English Title: Murmur of the Heart
Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF)
Starring: Lea Massari, BenoÎt Ferreux, Daniel Gélin
Directed by: Louis Malle

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Laurent Chevalier (BenoÎt Ferreux) is an intelligent and mature fourteen year old who is coming of age with the help (or hindrance) of his older brothers, his exasperated father and his doting mother Clara (Lea Massari) who lavishes affection on the boy.

Kitty Cameo: In one of the first scenes Laurent arrives home to find a shorthaired kitten on the doorstep.  The kitten’s name is Joseph and Laurent picks him up and takes him inside, promising to play a new jazz record for him.

Once inside Laurent hears his father berating his secretary.  He pauses on the stairs to listen.

Joseph mews and Laurent shushes him.

Later we see Joseph in Laurent’s room.  Laurent has fetched a copy of an adult book which was hidden in a bookcase.  He greets Joseph when he enters the room, then settles down on the bed, picking up the kitten.

Kinky Kitty?  Laurent lays back onto the bed to pleasure himself while reading the book.  Before he begins, he places the kitten between his legs.  ‘Nuff said.

Joseph is seen once more in the movie when Laurent is packing up to go to camp.  He is angry with his brothers, and Marc (Marc Winocourt) comes in to try talk to him.  Marc picks up Joseph and Laurent angrily snatches him back, saying, “Leave my cat alone!”

Final Mewsings: A boy’s best friend is his pus . . . er, uh, kitten.

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