Turkish filmmaker Ceyda Torun turns
her cameras on the infamous street cats of Istanbul in “Kedi,”
a charming, warm-hearted documentary tailor-made for cat people (or animal
lovers of any stripe). For thousands of years, these mysterious creatures have
ruled the streets of Torun’s hometown, and in that time they’ve grown to be an
integral part of its citizens lives. “Without the cat, Istanbul would lose its
soul,” one local observes.
Torun follows seven specific cats (of the some 30,000 strays
that roam the city), keeping her camera low to give us their view of what life
is like for a homeless cat in Turkey (it’s really not bad, not bad at all). As
the filmmaker tags along the animal’s daily adventures, she conveys the
beguilingly unique personalities of her feline subjects. She also captures the
sense of communal responsibility that’s emerged among residents when it comes
to their city’s furry cohabitants. The locals are always ready to scratch
behind the ears of a passing cat or welcome one into their homes to offer a few
scraps of food, without a moment’s hesitation. They’ll even cough up for some
medical treatment when they come across one that’s feeling sick; a baker
observes that most everyone he knows has a running tab with at least one area
vet.
By talking to the various humans who’ve found themselves the
de facto caretakers to these otherwise proudly independent creatures, the film
becomes an unconventional portrait of the city and the people who reside in it.
It’s a welcome counter portrayal for a place that has recently been more likely
to make the US news because of terror attacks or political unrest. But through
any upheaval, the cats have remained a constant.
By documenting these often profound cross-species bonds, “Kedi” becomes a record of how the changing face of the city
affects all its living inhabitants. This playful documentary nimbly transforms
into something with a surprising emotional heft.
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2017.
