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Cat Skin

Original title: Couro de Gato
1962 · 15 min
Directed by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade · Brazil · Latin American Cinema · Cinema Novo
Short filmDrama

Cast

Paulinho Riva Nimitz Henrique César Milton Gonçalves Francisco de Assis Napoleão Muniz Freire

Credits

Written by: Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Plot

A few weeks before Carnival, slum boys organize huntings for stray cats, whose leather can be used in Samba percussion instruments, like the Tamborim, a small drum.

Sinekatalog’s take

A short about slum boys hunting stray cats to make samba drums just before Carnival. It is unsettling, raw and socially sharp, setting festive tradition against poverty. Strong, memorable viewing for fans of Brazilian social cinema.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Ratings

IMDb: 7.7 / 10 (282 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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