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The Cats of Mirikitani

Play trailer Poster for The Cats of Mirikitani 2006 1h 14m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
This documentary by Linda Hattendorf focuses on Jimmy Mirikitani, an elderly homeless artist with Japanese roots. Living on the streets of Manhattan, Mirikitani sells his paintings, which are mostly of cats, but also include scenes of imprisonment that hark back to his days in an American internment camp during World War II. Hattendorf invites Mirikitani into her apartment and finds out more about his life during wartime, which shares some similarities with post-9/11 New York City.
The Cats of Mirikitani

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Critics Consensus

The Cats of Mirikitani is a look at an elderly street artist that turns into a sincere and deeply moving account of human compassion and healing.

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Critics Reviews

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Janice Page Boston Globe 08/24/2007
3/4
It should not have taken luck and a charitable filmmaker to save Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani. Go to Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 04/27/2007
3.5/5
By paying him attention and making this portrait, [director Hattendorf] makes us see Jimmy Mirikitani as a three-dimensional person and not a stereotype of homelessness. You leave the film glad to have met him. Go to Full Review Adam Nayman eye WEEKLY 04/23/2007
3/5
Her efforts, presented without even the faintest whiff of self-congratulation, yield revelation and real success, and keep The Cats of Mirikitani moving along a compelling and unpredictable trajectory. Go to Full Review Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) 08/23/2017
. . . the twists and turns of his life story become more apparent and the full scope of his tragedy takes shape. But life has a curious habit of unpredictability, those who appear lost forever are finally found, and occasionally you can go home again. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/27/2010
A
It's a gentle and inspirational doc about a street artist. Go to Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) 05/25/2007
3/4
One is struck by how both filmmaker and subject had their lives changed and improved by such a chance encounter, the kind we hope for when we live in a city. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/16/2016 When Jimmy Mirikitani was 25 years old he was arrested, stripped of his citizenship, and imprisoned for more than three years by the US government. This beautiful, delicate documentary finds Jimmy, now 81, a homeless painter in New York. We fall in love with Jimmy as he tracks down lost family members and friends, and recounts his experience of oppression. All against the backdrop of post-9/11 racial profiling... See more 07/30/2013 Magical, moving, real, rich and inspiring. Great music score. Wonderful story. See more 07/17/2012 Wonderfully moving. Importantly inspiring. What an extremely important story to tell! See more 06/23/2012 I loved this documentary. I went in watching on the recommendation of a FB friend (hi! Jen Lyn Anderson) and it exceeded my expectations. I would also recommend other people watch it without knowing much about it, because it heightens the appreciation of Mr. Mirikitani, the wonderful director Linda Hattendorf, the Korean market owner and all the other good people. See more 04/23/2012 What a moving film....his is an amazing artist... See more 09/02/2011 I didn't know what to expect since I had not read any reviews earlier about this document, but this one really touched me. Thought that this is something about an artist but it was something else. Meeting a friendly American changes Mirikitani's life completely. See more Read all reviews
The Cats of Mirikitani

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Cast & Crew

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Linda Hattendorf

Director
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The Cats of Mirikitani

The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) The Cats of Mirikitani (2006) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary by Linda Hattendorf focuses on Jimmy Mirikitani, an elderly homeless artist with Japanese roots. Living on the streets of Manhattan, Mirikitani sells his paintings, which are mostly of cats, but also include scenes of imprisonment that hark back to his days in an American internment camp during World War II. Hattendorf invites Mirikitani into her apartment and finds out more about his life during wartime, which shares some similarities with post-9/11 New York City.
Director
Linda Hattendorf
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 12, 2010
Runtime
1h 14m