CAT by Madeleine White

- A functioning-alcoholic dad seeks his daughter’s forgiveness after missing her birthday and killing the family cat.

CAT

By Madeleine White

Returning late from a drunken night out, alcoholic father, Andrew, attempts to make things right with his daughter, Katie, after missing her birthday.

Things begin to go awry when he accidentally runs over the family cat. Armed with his daughter’s birthday present, beer bottle and a now-dead cat, Andrew must face his daughter.

He doesn’t make it very far before he falls into their pool and begins to drown.

The story continues from the perspective of his consciousness underwater as he watches his daughter make the crucial decision of whether or not she wants to save him.

Director’s Bio:

Madeleine White is a 17-year-old director and photographer who grew up living between the free-spirited Australian wilds and the film-saturated environment of Malibu, California.

She is interested in the potential of film to convey the stories of those with a unique experience that would otherwise go unheard, and the external portrayal of uniquely internal emotion.

Since signing to production company, Adolescent Content, she has gone on to create award-winning work. ‘Perception’ Madeleine’s first film, a short documentary, launched her career as a selection for the Independent Filmmaker’s Showcase Los Angeles.

Her short film ‘Blue’ premiered at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, and experimental short ‘Flight’ was shown at the Junior High Gallery in Los Angeles. Madeleine will be attending London College of Communication in the summer of 2019.

Director’s Statement: Cat is a highly personal exploration of guilt and its manifestation in family relationships. I wanted to illustrate the strain of alcoholism on a relatable level that did not feel cliche or overwrought. Inspired by an unfortunate series of real events, Cat proves to be a depiction of real emotion in a surreal setting. I am both proud and frightened to share this piece with the world.