A purrfectly meoww-velous film, Mye Hoang’s documentary CAT DADDIES has all the fuzzy feels. Get ready to fall in love and have your heart stolen by CAT DADDIES! A true “Must See” film.
Follow the journeys of feline-loving CAT DADDIES and their precious fur babies around the country. Such personalities – both the dads and the cats! But no matter who they are or where they are, there is the inexplicable bond of love that ties dad and cat together.
Honing in on eight cat dads – a homeless man named David, a cat rescuer, an actor and social media influencer, a stuntman, a teacher, an engineer, a truck driver, and a group of firefighters – Hoang delivers a beautiful film that breaks down myths about men and cats while focusing in on the emotional support, strength, and joy cats provide each of their humans.
Standout is the story of the homeless man named David and his cat Lucky. Their story will bring tears to the eyes and hopefully, put a smile on your heart. David, a former construction worker now displaced and homeless, adopts a little kitten he names Lucky when he realizes that like himself, Lucky is on the streets and homeless during a bitterly cold New York winter. Their connection is instantaneous and magical. Thanks to Lucky, David, who falls into ill health, meets strangers who become friends and come to his aid during extended hospital stays, not only worrying about and helping David but caring for Lucky. With Hoang’s cameras constantly checking in on David in the hospital, and on Lucky who is in the temporary care of a friend of David’s, the thing that keeps David going and pushing onward through medical challenges is the thought of being reunited with Lucky. Not to be overlooked is the fact that the story of David and Lucky speaks to something even bigger than companionship. It speaks to the mutual benefit and improved quality of life for both when they find a forever heart with one another.
The debate has long raged over whether or not the homeless should have pets on the streets with them or whether shelters should allow pets, positing that if individuals can’t provide for themselves with basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, how can they care for a pet. CAT DADDIES shines a light on the benefits of the homeless having a pet. With David, he pushes himself harder and wants to improve his circumstances because he has Lucky to think about. He may not realize it, but we see it onscreen, as his pure and unselfish love is emotionally propelling him upward and forward in life. Lucky gives David hope.
Not everything in CAT DADDIES is as heartwarming as the story of David and Lucky, or as fun as that of truck driver David and his cat Tora as they travel the country together. We also see a more narcissistic side of a couple of cat daddies who while definitely loving cat dads, use the adorableness of their cats as social media click-bait (who can resist clicking on cat videos!).
Also doing their best to steal the show are firehouse cat Flame, #goalkitty, and Toodles with his stuntman cat daddy Ryan.
But CAT DADDIES is more than just looking at men and their cats and breaking the myth of masculinity surrounding men being cat daddies. While you will find yourself filled with warm furry feels that only seeing cats on film can bring, Hoang goes a bit deeper, showing us how cats brought people together in these unprecedented times, give purpose to some and adventure to others, provide emotional stability during a global pandemic and isolating lockdowns, give comfort when needed most, reminding us what’s important in life amidst wildfires and mudslides, inspiring individuals to give food and temporary shelter to feral cats as well as get involved with TNR (trap-neuter-return) and re-homing.
Robert Bennett’s lensing knowingly captures the personality of each cat daddy and each cat, as well as the intimacy and individuality of each relationship. And talk about some beautiful imagery of the open spaces of Mother Nature! Just watching the imagery of CAT DADDIES has a calming effect. Beautifully structured, seamlessly interweaving each of the stories with an easy flow thanks to the editing of Hoang and Dave Boyle, and then topping it off with a sweet and fun undercurrent of a score courtesy of Micah Dahl Anderson, CAT DADDIES is the cat’s meow!!
Directed by Mye Hoang
by debbie elias, 10/21/2021
CAT DADDIES is currently on the festival circuit. Follow the journey of CAT DADDIES on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @catdaddiesmovie.
