Two robbers hold up a bank and its employees demanding 3 million marks for their ransom. The police plot to storm the bank but are unaware the robbers have an accomplice on the outside, anticipating their every move. Genre master Dominik Graf specialised in crime films and The Cat is one of his greatest. A heist film of the highest order, it grabs you from its opening scenes and doesn’t let go. Winner of Best Direction at the German Film Awards, The Cat is an undiscovered treasure and Radiance Films is proud to present it on Blu-ray for the first time outside Germany.

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Video Quality

The Cat debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films from an HD transfer supplied to the label with additional grading performed by Radiance and overseen by director Dominik Graf. The new transfer retains the natural grain structure that taps into the carefully composed canvas. This new transfer reveals unique details that shine through in the clothing and production design. The contrast is resolute in all environments with firm highlights and no egregious instances of black crush. The shadowy corners of the parking garage and other settings provide some fine depth to the image. The colors are boldly saturated with hues permeating the screen. This source has been given a careful and considerate remaster with very little in the way of specks of damage. Radiance Films has delivered a first-rate visual presentation that showcases why we love the label.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track in German (with optional English subtitles) which holds up quite well. The dialogue is consistently robust with the utmost clarity and no signs of distortion. Exchanges never get drowned out by the sound effects or the score. The narrative allows for vital showcases of environmental sounds and other textural elements. The memorable score comes through with unwavering fidelity. This track always strives for accuracy and ideal fidelity, and thankfully there is practically nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. Radiance Films has done nice work with this one

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of The Cat includes a booklet featuring new writing by film critic Brandon Streussnig which delves into the film, its themes, and its place in German cinema. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Dominik Graf: A new 65-minute expansive interview with the filmmaker who dives deep into his career and the creation of this film.

Christoph Fromm: A new 32-minute interview with the screenwriter in which he discusses his career, the process of adapting the novel for the screen, the challenges he faced, and more.

Georg Feil: A new 32-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses his background and entry into the cinema, the production challenges of The Cat and more.

Select Scene Audio Commentaries: Director Dominik Graf takes a look at three scenes totaling 13 minutes which offers some context for key choices, his work with the performances, and more.
Trailer (1:52)

Final Thoughts

The Cat is one of the better heist thrillers we have seen in some time. The film does not go overboard with twists and turns, but it works very well in terms of setting the board for the action and watching it all masterfully unfold. Both sides of the law are compelling, and the direction of Dominik Graf is impeccable. This is not a title that has had a major global footprint up until this point, so we can only hope this release gives it the attention it deserves. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and a deep bench of special features. Highly Recommended

The Cat will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on February 25, 2025.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.