The Cats of the Gokogu Shrine (Gokogu no Neko)

Screening at Luna Leederville.

Japanese documentary filmmaker Kazuhiro Sôda’s latest film, The Cats of Gokogu Shrine, takes place in the coastal town of Ushimado, where a clowder of street cats live at Gokogu shrine, a traditional place of worship for those who have died in conflict. Peaceful on the surface, the shrine is also the epicentre of a sensitive issue that divides the local community.

While some local residents volunteer their time to take care of the cats, others are disturbed by their mess. Sôda observes their co-existence with kindness, precision and occasional involvement. Quietly charming and beautifully filmed, the film takes the time to appreciate not only the kindheartedness of Ushimado’s community but the beauty of the natural world.

The Cats of Gokogu Shrine is a joyous and thought-provoking observation of a community and its traditional spiritual practices that premiered to great acclaim at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.