Cat Lovers Hissing over “Anti-Amelie” Film
French cat-lovers are having a hissy fit over a new movie poster that features an actress dumping a cat in a dustbin. In “Vilaine,” the protagonist, Mélanie Lupin — a young single woman — tries hard to be nice to everyone, but realizes that approach isn’t getting her anywhere in the world of romance, so then sets out to be rude. Great plot, eh? I guess this includes dumping cats in the trash.
The film is described by its producers as the opposite of Amélie, the popular 2001 Audrey Tautou film. In the Vilaine movie poster, Mélanie, played by Marilou Berry, is depicted holding a live cat by the scruff of its neck over a trash bin. The Society for the Protection of Animals in France (SPA) has received so many complaints about the ad that it released a statement describing its shock at the image: “While the SPA does not doubt the integrity of Marilou Berry and the production team who have clearly not mistreated any animals, we feel it is clear the producers of Vilaine are not aware of the impact this image may have on a fragile general public.”
The statement goes on to point out the “nightmarish” effect the image may have on children who have cats and that the public may find it amusing to imitate the actress.
Actress Marilou Berry thanked the SPA. “The poster was put on their website, which created a buzz. The trailer has had 250,000 hits. As for the cat in the advert, there were two of them and they are both fine – I know because I adopted them.”
Hey Skeezy, Are you sure that woman didn’t crawl out of the trash can herself? What a smelly ad! Bosco.
I’m a cat lover (well, I love ALL animals, really) as well as a big fan of “Amelie,” so I find this advert to be revolting on so many different levels. Does anyone know how we might be able to voice our opinions so that the producer might realize that the outrage isn’t just across France but has jumped “the puddle” over to the USA as well?
And I don’t care if the actress adopted the two cats — if she truly cared about animals she herself would have refused to do such a pathetic photo shoot and would have suggested an alternative herself.
I agree Julia, I would never have agreed to do an ad like this. It reminds me of the Armstrong Cheese commercial – I don’t know if that was shown outside Canada but it showed a woman who spoiled her cat beyond belief, until the cat went for her Armstrong Cheese. When she did that, the woman shoved the cat off the table, hard. After a few weeks it was changed. I guess they got enough complaints. I dont see how this kind of stuff makes it this far? And judging from the actress’ comments, she seems more worried about how many views the trailer got.
I’ve never heard of the actress before, but I would never be associated with any act of animal violence even if it was photoshopped and given all the money in the world! I’m outraged by this and find no humor in it whatsoever. If anyone decides to take any action and needs my support, please let me know!
So many people left behind their brains when this poster was put together! I agree with Julia that the actress should have refused to do the photo shoot. Add this movie to the list I’ll never see if it comes to the U.S.!
This just glamourises violence against cats. There must be better ways to show a “rude” character. I can see boneheads everywhere copying this.
That’s exactly the problem: regardless of whether or not this movie advert was photoshopped, the reality is that morons aplenty will think it funny and attempt to replicate it — for real (and really isn’t there enough ugliness in the world without adding to it with garbage like this?). Regardless of the actress having adopted the two cats, she sends the message that it’s ok to treat animals this way. There’s no humor in animal abuse. None. Substitute a human baby for the cat and folks would go nuts — why is that any different? Cruelty is cruelty. Yeah, I’ll just stick to “Amelie” and skip this movie altogether.
I think a human baby would be funnier. She’s supposed to be evil and mean, after all (think Cruella de Ville)- go the whole hog and throw out a baby!
If we have people copying this, we have bigger problems with society than movie posters.
That poster is just WRONG! There’s nothing humorous about animal neglect or cruelty. My parents won’t be checking out this dreck, and not just because it’s a French film!
Great! Will we ever be heard? Donations to Shelters, Signing Petitions…………done in by a stupid poster.