Unholy Cats and Wholesome Dogs

A film program that showcases domestic pets as captivating lead characters, faithful friends or powerful symbols.

Cats and dogs have graced the screen since the earliest days of cinema. Cats are less likely than dogs to follow direction so regularly feature as elegant symbols of domesticity, independence, or in the case of the stylish horror Cat People, repressed desire. The various cats in Inside Llewyn Davis are not evil, but rather assured escape artists who exhibit the grace and survival instincts which constantly elude the film’s human lead.

Umberto D and Lassie Come Home are classics built around the human-dog bond which still have the capacity to move us with their powerful stories of love without condition or compromise, while Laurie Anderson uses her pet terrier Lolabelle as a starting point for a deeper examination of love and grief in her essay film, Heart of a Dog.

All of these films pay tribute to the privileged place these animals hold in our lives.