2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
How in the world can something so small and so cute turn your life upside down? In the case of Ken Nsimba and his wife Kaila Nsimba, they found that Savi the Cat, as small and cute as he is, was powerful enough to throw a wrench in their plans–and their lives are changed forever as a result. The young couple sits down and discusses their experience with their furry friend, both the good and the bad, and their story is magnificent.
Who the hell cares what happened to a married couple when they adopted a cat? On the surface, without any knowledge of what Savi the Cat possesses, the answer would be something like “no one.” This short documentary-esque narrative, however, is one of the wildest stories that I’ve ever heard–and not only is the literal journey that plays out interesting, but the emotional relevance that Ken and Kaila present to viewers is unlike anything that I could have believed to be a possibility.
This couple exudes confidence, vigor, and passion–and their personalities are big enough to carry just about any story forward. They are articulate, emotional, and accessible. They are the perfect people to tell this story, as I’m not entirely sure that anyone else has the ability to bring this story to life in such vibrant and relatable ways. As Savi the Cat plays out, and their feline friend’s story comes to life, viewers are pulled into their journey, into their orbit, and provided a series of opportunities to truly appreciate all that is being said and done. I was fully immersed in Savi the Cat from the opening moments, and as the journey barrels forward, the Nsimbas become more and more energetic, only strengthening the narrative and further enveloping me in their lives.
Savi the Cat combines live-action and animation to bring the story of Savi, the menacing little cat, to life. The live-action portions of the film are straight forward, often featuring Ken and Kaila sitting down and expressing their experiences–but the animation is far more elaborate. This aspect of the film is tasked with bringing the story to life, to give it purpose and fun energy in a way that Kaila and Ken just can’t (this is not by any means a knock on their performance, it’s just a reality). The animation is rough, sketch-like, but also very visceral. Savi is one heck of a character throughout the course of Savi the Cat–and the animation illustrates this in a way that raises the quality of the film to a new level.
Savi the Cat is uniquely powerful. A story about a maniacal cat manages to bring viewers close to tears, have them fearing the typical, and questioning everything that they know about their own lives. Writer-Directors Netsanet Tjirongo and Bryan Tucker have a masterpiece on their hands–a film that has the potential to be incredibly far reaching. Not only is Savi the Cat one of the best films at Tribeca this year, but it’s one of the best films of the year, period.
Written & Directed by Netsanet Tjirongo & Bryan Tucker.
Starring Ken Nsimbi & Kaila Nsimbi.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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