Take Care of My Cat (2001) – A Quiet Exploration of Friendship, Growth, and Solitude

 

Take Care of My Cat (2001) – A tender portrait of friendship and growing pains among five young women with a cat navigating early adulthood in Incheon.

🌆 Introduction

At twenty, how much of ourselves do we truly understand?

Take Care of My Cat begins with this gentle question. This 2001 Korean coming-of-age film follows five friends who, after graduating high school, find themselves moving along different paths.

One seeks stability in a full-time job, another chases creative dreams, while others bear family responsibilities or navigate uncertain futures. Over time, the closeness they once shared begins to waver, and subtle distances emerge.

What makes this film enduring is its tender portrayal of these distances and the quiet acts of care that bridge them. Loneliness is a natural companion to personal growth, but the film reminds us that even in solitude, connection is possible through small gestures of understanding and attention.

🎬 Film Overview

Title	Take Care of My Cat (고양이를 부탁해)
Director	Jeong Jae-eun (정재은)
Release Year	2001
Release Date	October 13, 2001
Cast	Bae Doona, Lee Yo-won, Ok Ji-young, Lee Eun-ju, Lee Eun-shil
Genre	Drama, Coming-of-age
Runtime	112 minutes
Language	Korean
Country	South Korea
IMDb Rating	7.1/10
Box Office	35,000 admissions (Korea)
Awards	FIPRESCI Prize (Rotterdam), NETPAC Award (Pusan), Best Picture (Cinema Jove Valencia)
Recognition	Ranked #19 by The Guardian among classics of modern South Korean cinema (2020)

🌆 Incheon as a Reflective Backdrop

Director Jeong Jae-eun captures the gritty yet intimate atmosphere of Incheon, providing a perfect mirror for youth navigating adulthood.

From expansive harbor views to narrow alleys and worn-out urban corners, the city becomes a character itself. Incheon's muted palette reflects the uncertainty and melancholy of the young women's lives.

The quiet seaside scenes are particularly evocative — serene but tinged with longing — echoing the delicate balance of hope and hesitation that defines early adulthood.

By situating the story in a real urban landscape rather than an idealized one, the film grounds the emotional journeys of its characters in everyday reality, making their struggles and triumphs feel tangible and relatable to audiences both in Korea and abroad.

🐈 The Cat as a Metaphor

The title's cat (named Teetee) is more than a mere pet; it functions as a symbol of care, connection, and responsibility.

Moving between the friends, the cat quietly conveys concern, serving as a non-verbal reminder of the bonds that persist even when the characters drift apart.

Through this feline presence, the film asks: How do we care for others in ways that are meaningful yet understated?

The answer is not dramatic gestures or overt heroism — it is the small, persistent acts of looking out for someone else, the quiet checking-in, and the willingness to remain emotionally present.

💭 Personal Reflection

At twenty, or even later, we think we know ourselves. But life has a way of revealing what we didn't see—layers of ourselves we never knew existed, slowly unfolding with time.

Friends drift apart. It's natural. Yet we tell ourselves it's because life got too busy, too demanding—as if distance always needs a reason. We do the same with loneliness, searching for causes when perhaps it's simply part of being human.

Watching this film, I was reminded of something I've only understood with age: how much quiet care can mean. A small gesture. A moment of attention. An unspoken understanding. These things matter more than we realize when we're young.

It made me wonder: Have I been offering that kind of care to the people around me—to my family, my friends? Or have I taken their quiet acts of looking after me for granted, so subtle I didn't even notice?

Can I become someone's cat? That quiet presence that checks in, that reminds someone they're not alone?

Or maybe the question is simpler: Do I need that presence myself?

What about you?

우리는 앞으로 누군가의 고양이가 되어줄 수 있을까? 혹은 그런 존재가 필요하진 않을까?

(A reflection in my native Korean — because some questions about care feel truer in the language closest to your heart.)

🕊️ Growth, Independence, and Solitude

Though nearly a quarter-century old, Take Care of My Cat remains remarkably relevant.

Young adults today still face employment pressures, economic uncertainty, familial obligations, and the challenge of carving out an independent identity. The film's sensitive portrayal of these universal experiences gives it timeless appeal.

Importantly, it emphasizes that solitude does not equate to failure. The film celebrates the possibility of growth even in isolation, highlighting that personal independence and mutual care are not mutually exclusive.

The characters' journeys show that understanding, empathy, and friendship can coexist with ambition, self-discovery, and the pressures of adulthood.

🎥 What Makes This Film Special

Take Care of My Cat is the feature debut of Jeong Jae-eun, one of the few female directors to gain a foothold in the male-dominated Korean film industry at the time.

Her naturalistic approach and refusal to rely on melodrama set the film apart from typical coming-of-age narratives. There's no villain, no dramatic climax, no explosive confrontation — just the quiet, inevitable drift of people growing in different directions.

The film pioneered the visual integration of text messages on screen, making it one of the first "millennial" films to authentically capture how young people stayed connected in the early 2000s.

Bae Doona, who would later gain international recognition in films like Cloud Atlas and The Host, delivers one of her earliest and most nuanced performances here.

Despite critical acclaim and numerous international awards, the film initially bombed at the Korean box office with only 35,000 admissions. However, it sparked a "Save the Cat" movement among filmmakers and Incheon residents, eventually becoming a cult classic.

💬 Themes That Resonate

When the credits roll, viewers are left with a reflective calm, pondering questions such as:

"Who am I to my friends?"
"How do I show that I care, even in small ways?"

Take Care of My Cat is more than a coming-of-age story; it is a meditation on the enduring value of friendship, responsibility, and emotional connection.

Its quiet, contemplative tone allows viewers to linger on their own experiences of growing up, forming bonds, and navigating the uncertainties of early adulthood.

🎯 Who Should Watch This Film

You'll love Take Care of My Cat if you:

• Appreciate slow-paced, character-driven narratives
• Value films about female friendships and coming-of-age
• Enjoy Korean cinema's naturalistic storytelling
• Find beauty in understated, quiet moments
• Want to see early work by Bae Doona
• Are interested in films about the transition from youth to adulthood

🌍 Where to Watch

Take Care of My Cat (2001) is available on:

• Criterion Channel (streaming)
• Kino Lorber (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy - varies by region)
• Apple TV (rent/buy)
• Various international film festivals (occasional screenings)

Note: Availability varies by country. Check JustWatch for current streaming options in your region.

📝 Final Thoughts

For international audiences interested in Korean cinema, female friendships, or subtle explorations of youth, this film is an essential watch.

It perfectly blends realism with emotional resonance, creating a story that is both culturally specific and universally relatable.

Take Care of My Cat reminds us that growing up doesn't mean growing apart — and that sometimes, the smallest acts of care carry the greatest weight.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the film called Take Care of My Cat?
The cat (named Teetee) is passed between the friends throughout the film, symbolizing care, connection, and the quiet responsibility we have toward one another.

Is this film based on a true story?
No, but it authentically captures the experiences of young women in early 2000s South Korea, particularly in the port city of Incheon.

Why did the film fail at the box office?
Despite critical acclaim, it only attracted 35,000 admissions in Korea. Its slow pace and lack of dramatic conflict didn't appeal to mainstream audiences at the time, though it later became a cult classic.

What awards did Take Care of My Cat win?
The film won the FIPRESCI Prize at Rotterdam, NETPAC Award at Pusan, and Best Picture at Cinema Jove Valencia, among others.

Who is Jeong Jae-eun?
This was her feature debut. She's one of the pioneering female directors in Korean cinema, known for her naturalistic, character-focused storytelling.

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you watched Take Care of My Cat? Which character resonated with you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

🎬 More from Cinematic Sanctuaries

If you enjoyed Take Care of My Cat, explore these films about friendship and growing up:

• Our Little Sister (2015) Review - Japanese film about sisterhood and quiet connection.
• Architecture 101 (2012) Review - Korean coming of age story about first love and memories.
• Little Forest (2018) Review – Korean adaptation about finding yourself through simple living
• Reply 1988 Review – Korean drama about friendship and nostalgia in 1980s Seoul