Oscar Movies: Cat’s Play–Oscar Nominee

This intimate, low-key but affecting Hungarian movie deals with love and heartbreak among the elderly.

Nominated for the 1974 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, “Cat’s Play” tells the story of two sisters.  The younger sister, a singing teacher, has remained in Hungary, and the older one lives in West Germany.

Despite many requests from her older sister, the teacher remains in Hungary, partly due to her love for a retired opera singer.

The two siblings exchange letters, and through flashbacks we get glimpses of their childhood.

When the younger sister discovers that the opera singer has a new friend, she takes badly the rejection.

Oscar Nominations: 1

Best Foreign Language Film

Oscar Context:

The winner was Fellini’s “Amarcord.”

Running time: 115 Minutes.

Directed by Károly Makk.

Written by: Károly Makk, Janos Toth.

DVD: October 25, 2005