: While other children play, Ilse is treated like a servant. Her brothers—one of whom, Dieter, was played by a young Jürgen Vogel

: Like the "November cats" of the title—kittens born late in the year that are traditionally considered weak or unwanted—Ilse feels neglected and isolated.

The most prevalent theory is that “Novemberkatzen” was a working title for a short animated or live-action film produced in late 1986 by DEFA (the state-owned film studio of East Germany) in collaboration with Mosfilm or Kievnauchfilm. The plot, as reconstructed from a single surviving Ok.ru description (machine-translated from Ukrainian), is haunting:

If you have any memories or insights related to "Novemberkatzen 1986" or Ok.ru, we'd love to hear from you! Was it a quirky meme that circulated in the early days of Russian social media, or perhaps a term that held significance in a specific online community? Share your stories and help uncover the story behind this intriguing piece of digital history.

: She is jeered by neighborhood children and finds little support at home; her grandmother favors her sister, and her brothers are often harsh.

📽️ A Forgotten Gem from 1986: "Novemberkatzen" (November Cats)