OurMovieNights
A Grin Without a Cat (1977) poster

1977 · documentary

A Grin Without a Cat

Directed by Chris Marker3h 0m1977

Chris Marker’s A Grin Without a Cat is an epic political essay tracing the rise and decline of the global left from the 1960s to the 1970s. Through archival footage and commentary, the film examines revolutionary movements in France, Latin America, and beyond, reflecting on the ideals, failures, and fading hopes of a generation.

Our read: A Grin Without a Cat (1977) reads as a sombre, measured, grounded documentary entry — measured in intensity, mid-stakes in scope, cold in temperature, nihilistic in outlook, with a strong directorial signature.

Movie DNA

Sombre, measured, measured documentary, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold.

ElsewhereIMDb7.91kRT92%Metacritic81TMDB7.926
  • sombre
  • measured
  • signature
Video previewNo trailer available for this one.
Game · before you press play

Watching A Grin Without a Cat tonight? Spin for your lens.

Everyone on the couch spins once and gets one craft to watch for. After the credits, compare what you caught.

Your lens for tonight

?

Everyone on the couch gets one craft to watch for. Spin the wheel to get yours. Sound on: the narrator reads your mission.

Where to watch
All options on JustWatch

Availability in Latvia · via JustWatch

More info & search links
Where the cast leads
DNA · twelve axes

How A Grin Without a Cat feels to watch.

Each axis is scored by hand, not from votes or genre averages. The bar uses the film's own colours.

MoodHeavy ↔ Cosy
PacingSlow-burn ↔ Kinetic
IntensityGentle ↔ Extreme
WeirdnessConventional ↔ Surreal
HopeNihilistic ↔ Redemptive
StakesIntimate ↔ Epic
HumourNone ↔ Broad
RealityGrounded ↔ Fantastical
DensitySparse ↔ Twisty
WarmthCold ↔ Tender
AuteurTransparent ↔ Signature
Tonight, this looks like

What watching it is actually like.

“You want dense archival essay on the rise and decline of global 1960s-70s radical left.”

ends ambiguousit stays with youmeditativegrips by minute 10attention 4/5feels its lengthsubtitles: full
Date nightWith friendsSoloWith parentsKids around
Heads-upgraphic violence

Skip it tonight — You want narrative fiction or light two-hour viewing.

Nearest by DNA

Eight films that feel like this one.

Closest in the twelve-axis space, not “people also liked”. All films like A Grin Without a Cat, with why →

Your take
Rate it
star-clip-1-0star-clip-2-0star-clip-3-0star-clip-4-0star-clip-5-0
React
Discussion

Discussion

cmd enter to post

Make it a movie night.

Pick a mood, get a film the whole couch will enjoy, and give everyone something to watch for.

Pick tonight's film →
Watching with your partner?Play this film’s board