Watch The Cats of Mirikitani

The Cats of Mirikitani is a heart-warming documentary film released in 2006 that takes the audience on a journey of discovery and healing. The film is directed by Linda Hattendorf, who is also a central character in the movie. The film follows the story of Jimmy Mirikitani, an 80-year-old homeless and destitute artist of Japanese descent, who lives on the streets of New York City.

Jimmy is a survivor of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing and was brought up in America as a Japanese immigrant. He had been living on the streets of New York City for over two decades and had been selling his paintings on the street to make a living. The audience gets to see the struggles of Jimmy, his daily life on the streets, and how he turned to art to cope with his trauma.

Linda, who was a friend of Jimmy, initially meets him in 2001, a few weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Linda was working on a documentary about the street artists of New York City at the time and stumbled upon Jimmy while shooting. She quickly strikes a bond with him, and their friendship develops over time. Jimmy trusts Linda deeply and opens up to her about his life, and the documentary becomes more than a simple project about street artists. It becomes a profound exploration of Jimmy's art and life, trauma and healing.

The documentary takes the audience on a tour of Jimmy's art, which he created on Japanese scrolls and other unconventional surfaces. The art is marvelous and reflects Jimmy's life from the trauma of the Hiroshima bombing to his experiences in the United States. Jimmy's art becomes a symbol of resilience and creative expression in the face of unimaginable adversity.

The film also highlights the plight of immigrants who have a hard time adjusting to new lives in foreign lands, and how sometimes they resort to living on the streets when they are unable to find a foothold. In Jimmy's case, there was nobody to care for him, and he had to fend for himself on the harsh streets of New York City.

The documentary takes an emotional turn when Linda discovers that Jimmy has a sister living in one of the Japanese internment camps in the United States. The internment camps were put in place during World War II to house Japanese-Americans, and Jimmy's sister was in one of those camps at the time. Linda takes on the challenge of finding Jimmy's sister and reuniting them after over six decades of being apart.

The movie is a touching tale of the friendship that develops between Linda and Jimmy and the connections they make on the streets of New York City. The characters in the documentary are warm and endearing, and the narrative flows smoothly, making the audience feel empathy and affection for Jimmy and Linda.

The film is also a testament to the power of art as a medium of healing and self-expression. Jimmy's art is not just a passion but is also a reflection of his anguish, rage, and hope. Through his art, Jimmy is able to come to terms with his trauma and find some semblance of peace.

Overall, The Cats of Mirakitani is an excellent documentary that takes the audience on a journey of discovery and empathy. The movie is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys art, human stories, and tales of resilience and survival. The movie showcases the innate human capacity for compassion and love, and how, through friendship, we can extend a helping hand to those in need of support.