Here I am, contemplating the catalogue for the Rome Film Festival, to which mama will NOT take me as I get a bit anxious in crowds—especially cinephiles! BUT…I can still think about what I would have seen had I taken to that leash with a bit more enthusiasm…
Mama and papa are going to something called Gods Behaving Badly, which sounds okay to me as behaving badly is something I’m not very familiar with and I’d like to know more about it! Marc Turtletaub who is doing this film also did Little Miss Sunshine, which was written by the son, Michael Arndt, of one of mama’s friends, so they have to see that one!
Mama says it’s about real Olympian gods, all living in a condo together in New York…oh, boy. I wonder if they have a cat? No, that was the Egyptians, not the Greeks, but you never know.
Then there’s another film called Her by a famous director, Spike Jonze, about a man who falls in love with his operating system. Not far off, I think, since everyone I know is addicted to his computer or cell phone or even Cuisinart, haha (I won’t mention names here…), and then after that there is another one called Fear of Falling, adapted by Wally Shawn from a Henrik Ibsen play, The Master Builder, which mama and papa read in school. Not the most upbeat playwright in the world—that Hedda Gobbler was one spoiled and scary lady! Okay, okay, Gabler, but she fits the first name better; I wouldn’t be her kitty for all the chai in Tina! Haha, get it–tea in China?
My final choice is L’Altro Fellini, about Fellini’s brother. Fellini loved kitties and I read about him all the time, but I never knew he had a brother! I watch his old films with mama and papa and he was king, in my book.
Which reminds me–Mr. Fellini used to take his coffee at a bar in the Piazza del Popolo, and mama actually saw him there one evening and actually went over to his table (papa and their friend, Igi, scooted around the corner and just let her do her thing—always wise) and said, “Mr. Fellini,” (all in Italian), “You have made me so happy through your films, and I loved all of them.” Fellini looked up, perhaps he was irritated to be interrupted, or perhaps not, but mama scrambled around in her purse (you know what’s in those anthro womens’ purses) and said, “I want to give YOU something for all you have given me.” And with that, she pulled out a Glowworm, just on the market in the USA, a little flashlight that you pinch to make work, and Fellini was absolutely delighted and said, “Ma, come si chiama?” What is your name? And mama, wanting to be exotic and Italian said, “Susanna” and he said, “Well, grazie mille—this is just wonderful!” And he kept squeezing it on and off in delight.
Then she let him finish his caffé.
So this was mama’s encounter with the great Fellini.
He died two months later.
The only thing I can say about this to all kitties and anthros is to go for it when you can because you never know…
Signore Fellini, my hero of movies–(He is probably thinking, “Why didn’t I put Loulou in my films?” Haha, just kidding, I would have been a total flop.)
