Miss Minoes
A reporter uncovers a nefarious conspiracy between a local factory owner and the chairman of an animal rights society with a little help from a feline who takes the form of a sleuthing young woman (Carice van Houten).
Director: Vincent Bal
Starring: Carice van Houten, Theo Maassen, Sarah Bannier, Pierre Bokma, Marisa van Eyle
It's a Christmas present for cat lovers. Miss Minoes, the tweaked title of a 2001 Dutch film by Vincent Bal, is being given an American theatrical run (dubbed into English), and it's a pleasantly quirky, family-friendly fable with lots of meowing.
Conveying, with a light touch, important lessons for kids on the necessity of civic engagement, the perils of edit-ad conflicts, and the need to honor difference, Miss Minoes is also an ailurophile's dream, featuring a fantastic array of tabbies, calicos, and Birmans that always hit their marks.
In this cute 2001 children's feature from the Netherlands, the title cat magically transforms into a woman (Carice von Houten, later of Paul Verhoeven's Black Book) and assists a beat reporter with his field research.
The movie is probably ideal for those proverbial young girls who adore cats, and young boys, too. I can't recommend it for adults attending on their own, unless they really, really love cats.
Vincent Bal's film should appeal to kids, cat lovers and felines. I give it two stars, and my cat, Audrey, gives it three meows.
Best Actress
Artek - International Children's Film Festival (2005)
Best Actress
Carrousel International du Film (2002)
International Feature Film or Video - Live-Action
Chicago International Children's Film Festival (2002)
Golden and Platin Film, Netherlands (2002)
unknown
Nederlands Film Festival (2002)
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