A STREET CAT NAMED BOB

UK, 2016, 103 minutes, Colour.
Luke Treadaway, Bob the Cat, Joanne Froggatt, Ruta Gedmintas, Anthony Head, Darren Evans, Caroline Goodall, Ruth Sheen.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.


Anyone who is unfamiliar with the books on which this film is based may perceive the title as one of those life on the streets, cool and mod, in an American city. Not in the least!

The Bob of the title is actually a cat, a London cat, a ginger cat, whose destiny seems to be to charm absolutely everyone, even those who are a bit averse to cats.

The film is based on books by a drug addict, James Bowen, who overcame his problems, especially with the friendship and support of Bob the cat. It should be mentioned that Bob appears as himself although there are quite a number of stand ins as well. There are quite a few photos of the real James and actual Bob during the final credits of the film – enabling an emotional response for a final time. Luke Treadaway is convincing in the role.

Actually, the film is doing two things. By focusing on Bob, it invites the ordinary audience to watch the film, to enjoy watching Bob and his behaviour, his bonding with James. James tried to raise some money by busking in the city of London, especially around Covent Garden. After he discovers Bob as an intruder in his house, Bob bonds with him, especially after visits to the vet and care for him, and plenty of food – but not the mouse who lurks behind the wall! He follows James out of the house, onto a bus which leads to James carrying Bob on his shoulders everywhere and Bob sitting, being attentive, as James sings. When the crowds gather, listening to James but looking at Bob, there are quite a lot of donations – and umpteen photos.

When James loses his job, unjustly, he is able to get more work by selling The Big Issue, the heads realising that Bob is a wonderful marketing opportunity, that for all those who want to have a photo with Bob, the payment is buying an issue of The Big Issue.

There are some jealousies and poor James finds himself again in a fix, a month with no income, his pile of coins steadily going down, himself hungry, and Bob pacing also hungry. Eventually, there is another scuffle in the city and Bob is chased by a dog, absent for days, James pining…

For those engrossed by the cat, they are introduced to another story, a story of emotions, a broken family, a young boy becoming an addict, desperation of life on the streets, attempted busking, encounters with his father who has merit again and has a family, the trust of a social worker and entry into a methadone program, the risks of failure, the agony and days of withdrawal from methadone.

While Bob is a support, a neighbour who works as a vet, Betty Ruta Gedmintas, is also a great help to James, though shocked when she discovers that he is part of the methadone program, upset because her addict brother had died. There are glimpses of other addicts, an overdose in the streets, the dealers who stand on street corners in the suburbs.

The aim of the books on which the film is based was to attract readers who like a feelgood story as well as their experiencing of what it felt for an addict to feel bad. Audiences who may not be all that keen on cats will appreciate it but sit back and try to emphasise with the cat lovers who become absolutely absorbed.

1. A true story? The popularity of the books? The popularity of Bob the Cat? The presence of Bob himself in action? The final photos of James and Bob?

2. A drug story: family, difficult emotions, family problems, parental separation, addiction, teenage and adult, the drugs, the street, busking, the cat, people responding to the cat, companion to James, his change, the methadone program, his going through withdrawal? The experience?

3. The film as a cat story, audience response to cats? The stray, ginger, strong minded, making a noise like a thief, bonding with James, his looking for an owner, Bob at home, food, chasing the mouse, going out with James, James carrying him, present at the busking, the cash, the photo opportunities? People attracted by the cat?

4. Audiences, attracted by cats – with the dogs seen as the enemy! The cuteness of cats?

5. Val, social work, James and his trust, for getting the favour for the house, his settling in, his program, the visits to Val and her assessment? Taking Bob to the vet, his concern, the long wait, the money for the medicine, failing to turn up? His apology, continuing, finally ready for the withdrawal after the emergency methadone at the pharmacist, his success?

6. His father, the background story, staying in England, saying he did not want to fly to Australia, the separation, in London, watching James at Covent Garden, the talking, the insistence of his wife, his father slipping him the money, not wanted at the Christmas celebration, James going to the New Year party, the chaos with the cat, the girl with the allergy, breaking the vase? James as clean, coming to apologise, his father explaining, apologising, saying he was talking to his son?

7. Betty, walking the dogs, working at the vet, helping James with Bob, the story of her brother, his art, his death and its effect on her? Vegan, the meals, the jokes about tofu? Caring for Bob at the vet? The bond, talking, James relying on Betty, liking her, her discovering him with the methadone, her being hurt?

8. James in himself, the hurt as a child, the impact of his father and his absence, emotions, drugs, friendship with Baz, Baz following him after seeing the money, asking for the money, promising to use it for food, Baz collapsed on the street and James calling an ambulance, Betty helping to revive him? James and his down period, busking, his songs, the different venues around London, the poor amount of money? His work with Val? Bob in the house, care for him, the injury and taking him to the vet, the long wait, the payment for the medicine? The relationship with Betty, the bond? Emotions? Bob on the bus, people’s reaction, James singing, the crowds, the attraction of Bob, the increase in the cash, James thanking people, the range of photos? The dog urinating and the fight, James arrested, Val bailing him out, the ban on busking? The desperation, hungry, the amount of coins going down, Bob and hunger? The opportunity with The Big Issue, the special patch at Angel Station? People responding, the photo opportunities, selling the magazine, the American couple, the jealous opposition and his complaining to the authorities, James banned for a month? The return, the woman wanting to buy the dog for her boy, the dog chasing Bob, James and his pursuit? James pining, waiting, Bob’s return? The methadone, the anguishing experience? Clean again? Betty leaving, the bond between them?

9. The publisher, seeing James and Bob, giving money, the article about them in the local paper, the idea for the book, tracking James down, the discussions, the computer – and Bob with the fish on the screen?

10. The characters who liked James and Bob, the old lady and her knitting the scarf, often present? All the people wanting photos, the children?

11. Baz, money, food, death, the dealers across the street?

12. The book launch, people present, Betty, James’s father, his stepmother, the people from the street?

13. The impact of this film on cat lovers – and the opportunity to become more acquainted with addiction and its consequences and rehabilitation?