14-24 nov 2024
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The Cats of Gokogu Shrine
Program
The Cats of Gokogu Shrine

The Cats of Gokogu Shrine

Gokogu no neko
Kazuhiro Soda
Japan
2024
119 min
Dutch Premiere
Signed
Tickets & Times
Synopsis

The Shinto shrine Gokogu in the Japanese coastal town of Ushimado is home to a colony of stray cats. This film calmly observes how the animals have made a life here, waiting to be thrown some fish, sheltering during a rain shower.

As in his previous documentaries Peace (2010) and Inland Sea (2018), director Kazuhiro Soda takes a distinctively patient and amiable approach to his subjects, whether he’s taking the time to observe, or striking up a conversation. The cats might be the main characters, but this is also a portrait of the people who come and go at the shrine.

The volunteers who feed the cats, wipe dirt from their eyes and catch them to have them sterilized in an attempt to reduce the population. The woman who explains that she isn’t allowed to keep cats at home. The 80-year-old gardener, who isn’t too keen on the cats pooping in his flower beds. With understanding, Soda documents the differences of opinion, but ultimately The Cats of Gokogu Shrine shows how this place is a refuge for both humans and cats.

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Tickets & Times
Fri, november 15
20:30 – 22:49
Kriterion 1
Film fully subtitled in English

Sat, november 16
21:00 – 23:02
Pathé Noord 4
Film fully subtitled in English

Sun, november 17
20:30 – 22:49
ITA: Rabozaal
Film fully subtitled in English

Wed, november 20
20:15 – 22:34
Ketelhuis: Zaal 1
Film fully subtitled in English

Thu, november 21
18:45 – 20:47
Tuschinski 4
Film fully subtitled in English

Sat, november 23
17:30 – 19:32
Tuschinski 2
Film fully subtitled in English
Credits
119 min
color
DCP
Spoken languages: Japanese
Director
    Kazuhiro Soda
    Kazuhiro Soda
Production
    Kazuhiro Soda for Laboratory X, Inc.,
    Kiyoko Kashiwagi
    Kazuhiro Soda for Laboratory X, Inc.,
    Kiyoko Kashiwagi
Cinematography
    Kazuhiro Soda
    Kazuhiro Soda
Editing
    Kazuhiro Soda
    Kazuhiro Soda
Sound
    Kazuhiro Soda
    Kazuhiro Soda
World Sales
    Asian Shadows
    Asian Shadows
Screening copy
    Asian Shadows
    Asian Shadows

Stills

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