Chelsea Lupkin

Few opening scenes convey such relatable bitterness toward the awkward feeling of being uncomfortable in one’s own skin as the one that unfurls at the beginning of Guillaume Renusson’s moving short La nuit, tous les chats sont roses (All cats are pink in the dark). Between carefully composed close-ups of a young woman surveying her appearance, to the unwelcome appearance of a doting mother, the scene is undeniably compelling and sets a magically touching story in motion. A film whose title plays on the common proverb “all cats are gray in the dark”, Renusson’s film explores themes of acceptance and the power of femininity with its pink substitution.

During an unprecedented growth in the social conscience of gender identity and normatives, it should come as no surprise that filmmakers are using the opportunity to make their voices heard. Renusson’s All cats are pink in the dark creates a surreal picture of a pink-wigged transgender and a tomboy who meet in the dark of night through unforeseeable circumstances. Alice, who struggles with her body image suddenly finds herself with a magically gender-nonconforming character named Lola who seems more comfortable with femininity than she is.

While the film leans on the lengthy side, running close to twenty minutes, it more than makes up for it in how it transcends the coming-of-age genre. It never quite hits saccharine territory, but rather sends a beautifully hopeful message about freedom in acceptance. Both actors perform leaps above their lines, impressively hinting at the emotional storms within their characters. While some scenes may play out a bit too long and others are filmed too dark, the almost fantastical aesthetic throughout is captivating. As Alice and Lola share an altogether whimsical embrace dancing to music in her bedroom, it’s easy to see why their story will touch so many people who may feel alone in their self-doubts. Surely, pink is no doubt the new gray.

All cats are pink in the dark has screened at a number of film festivals including Palm Springs International ShortFest and OutFest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. Renusson will direct his first feature film in 2019 called Les Versants (White Paradise) produced by Frédéric Jouve of Les Films Velvet.