The Cat in the Bag

The Cat in the Bag (French: Le chat dans le sac) is a 1964 drama film by Gilles Groulx, which played a seminal role in the development of Quebec cinema. The film's themes, improvisational style, hand-held camera work and evocative music signalled the emergence of a new generation of Quebec films and filmmakers.

The film has mixed Direct Cinema documentary techniques and distancing devices similar to those employed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film tells the story of a young man's struggles to be accepted in Quebec society and Quebec's place in Canada. The protagonist, a journalist played by Claude Godbout, struggles with the question of whether to change society or accept it the way it is. He has a partner who is a Jewish Montrealer, an actress who runs a theater, but does not share the troubles and struggles with him. Claude leaves Montreal for the Quebec countryside to reflect on his life, and with the distance between them, their love fades.