Felidae (film)

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Felidae

DVD cover
Directed by Michael Schaack
Produced by Joe Hahn
Hanno Huth
Michael Schaack
Stefaan Schieder
Written by Akif Pirinçci (novel)
Martin Kluger
Starring Ulrich Tukur
Mario Adorf
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Music by Anne Dudley
Boy George
Cinematography Werner Loos
Distributed by Senator Filmverleih
Release date(s) 1994
Running time 82 minutes
Country Germany
Language German, English dub
IMDb profile

Felidae is a 1994 noir mystery German animated film. It was directed by Michael Schaack and released by the Trickompany animation studio. The screenplay, by Martin Kluger, is based on the 1989 novel by Akif Pirinçci.

The story centers around domestic house cat Francis and the grisly feline murders taking place in his new neighborhood.

While the movie was officially released in German, there is also a rare English dub that can be purchased on VHS.

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

A cat named Francis moves with his owner to a new neighborhood, and no sooner has he set paw into his new home than he is greeted by the slain body of another cat. Local street cat Bluebeard is convinced that this, and the other three recent killings, must have been committed by a "can-opener" - cat slang for a human.

Francis disagrees, and as he finds out more about the victims, is sure that not only is the murderer a cat, but that the killings are all connected by one common factor - each of the victims was sexually aroused at the time of death.

He is aided in his investigations by fierce, gluttonous Bluebeard, blind but wise Felicity, and the computer-using cat Pascal. His sleep is haunted by terrifying and vivid nightmares, which offer insight into the mind of the murderer.

Francis soon runs afoul of the local bully Kong and the suicidal Claudandus Sect, and Francis discovers that his new home was once the site of a laboratory owned by Doctor Pretorius. Pretorius, in his search to create a bonding glue that would heal any flesh wound, performed painful experiments on countless cats, including the legendary Claudandus. After Pretorius' death, the lab became a meeting site for the Claudandus Sect, who believe that Claudandus was imbued with powers that could help the cat species evolve into something greater.

[edit] Production

Production cost 15 million marks, setting a new record for the most expensive German animation project. [1]

[edit] Release

Felidae was released theatrically in Germany (October 3rd, 1994), Switzerland (January 20th, 1995), and Spain (August 29th, 1996).

It was released on PAL DVD region 2 with Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 surround sound for the original German audio and Dolby 2.0 for the English audio dub in Dolby 2.0. There are no subtitles. Extras (in German only) include DVD commentary, trailers and a "making of" documentary. [2]

[edit] Rating

This film has been rated FSK 12 in Germany. It is not rated by the MPAA, but would likely have been received an R rating due to the graphic depictions of sex and violence throughout the movie.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main Characters

Francis
The lead role and narrator, Francis is a black and grey tomcat whose natural curiosity leads him to become entangled in the string of murders.
Bluebeard
A mangled and streetwise Manx who helps Francis uncover clues, when he isn't trying to find his next meal.
Pascal
An elderly, brilliant cat whose knowledge of the local cats proves vital in helping Francis solve the mystery. Unbeknownst to Francis, as well as all the other neighborhood cats, Pascal is actually Claudandus, one of Pretorius' favorite subjects. Claudandus was considered the "mascot" of the vivisection projects. After being subjected to many experiments, Claudandus killed Pretorius and reached a legendary status amongst the cats. Most believe him to be dead.

[edit] Supporting Characters

Kong
A huge, bullying cat who belongs to the Claudandus Sect. After the discovery of his mate Solitaire's murder, he begrudgingly helps Francis.
Felicity (Felicitas) 
A blind but insightful Russian Blue cat who befriends Francis, offering some vital clues before she, too, is murdered.
Joker
Leader of the Claudandus Sect. He allows Claudandus to kill him to protect the secrecy of the Sect.
Jesaja
A mentally disturbed cat who lives in the sewer system, collecting the remains of murder victims in belief that it is the job willed to him by the prophet "Felidae."
Nhozemphtekh
A mysterious but beautiful female cat who seduces Francis as he tries to unravel the secret behind the murders. In the end of the movie she becomes Francis' mate.
Pretorius
A scientist striving to create a "wound glue" that will heal cuts instantly. He performs many experiments on cats, which are recorded on a video diary. Francis stumbles across these videos and sees Pretorius' descent into a rambling alcoholic. Pretorius was killed by Claudandus.

[edit] Minor Characters

Gustav
Francis' human owner. Blissfully unaware of the cat murders, "Gus" is a writer who, according to Francis, moves house every time he encounters writer's block
Archie
Gustav's friend, an interior decorator
Deep Purple
The fifth murder victim, elderly Deep Purple is found with his throat ripped out in a garage
Pepeline
Joker's granddaughter, who believes that Claudandus is alive and will return to lead the Sect
Solitaire
Kong's favored female friend and expected mother of his kittens. Francis discovers her body, her stomach ripped open and the unborn kittens strewn on the ground
Hermann 1 and 2
Two droopy-eyed Siamese cats who serve as Kong's henchmen
Gregor Mendel
The "father of modern genetics," who haunts Francis' nightmares

[edit] Voice Cast

[edit] German Voice Cast

Ulrich Tukur as Francis

Mario Adorf as Blaubart

Helge Schneider as Jesaja

Wolfgang Hess as Kong

Gerhard Garbers as Pretorius

Ulrich Wildgruber as Joker

Mona Seefried as Felicitas

Manfred Steffen as Gustav

Uwe Ochsenknecht as Archie

Michaela Amler as Nhozemphtekh

Christian Schneller as Mendel

Tobias Lelle as Hermann 1

Frank Röth as Hermann 2

Alexandra Mink as Pepeline ( credited as Alexandra Ludwig-Hahn)

Klaus Maria Brandauer as Pascal / Claudandus

Michael Habeck as Deep Purple (uncredited)

[edit] English Voice Cast

The English language cast are, for unknown reasons, not listed in the closing credits of the film, and as such are largely unknown.

Cary Elwes as Francis

[edit] Soundtrack

Brunswick Records 527 060-2

Country: Germany

Format: CD

Release Date: 1994

UPN: 7-3145-27060-2-7

Composer: Anne Dudley

Track listing

1. Felidae (Title Song) (04:44) Vocals by Boy George (Boy George/John Themis)

2. Main Theme From Felidae (02:06)

3. Bluebeard - And Archie! (01:26)

4. Kong And His Cronies (02:11)

5. Celebrating The Black Mass (05:55)

6. Felicitas (01:50)

7. Pascal - The Enigma (01:37)

8. Mendel's Waltz (02:39)

9. Blood Sport (02:17)

10. A Gruesome Encounter (04:03)

11. Catacombs Of Doom (00:58)

12. The Egyptian Dream (01:18)

13. Seduction NHOZEMPHTEKH (01:29)

14. In The Snow (01:14)

15. The Riddle Falls Into Place (05:04)

16. I Am Claudandus (05:01)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Felidae (1994) on BCDB
  2. ^ Felidae DVD on amazon.com

[edit] External links

Languages