Kedi : Des chats et des hommes

This is an art-house theatre winner. Cats, Istanbul, and Turks waxing philosophical about cats - what could be better? Every indie movie house must be desperate to scoop up this film. If you're a foreign film fan who loves things off-the-beaten-path, you'll love this film.

Kedi is refreshingly non-American. It steers clear of the formulaic elitism of typical American documentaries. Not only is it full of cute cats, but it also gives us a unique look at a culture most of us are unfamiliar with - Turkey and Istanbul. Did anyone know Istanbul is so stunning, aquatic, and reminiscent of old Europe, but with a unique vibe all its own? I can tell this film is increasing the tourism rates for Istanbul and Turkey.

So there were shots of romantic alleyways like those in England or Paris. And there were picturesque cityscapes that remind me of an art film set in Edinburgh. Istanbul apparently has a very Euro cafe culture. But so much of Istanbul in the film seems so new to me - lots of colors, details, and an aesthetic that's all its own.

The people interviewed seemed funny, artistic, intelligent, and thoughtful. Maybe they don't represent most Turks - just a subset that the director, Ceyda Torun, chose to interview for the film. Just like people in US films don't represent most Americans, the people chosen for this film surely don't represent the typical Turk. Watch all films with a grain of salt.

So this is how the film lovingly paints Istanbul:

-Colorful, artsy, dreamy, unique - like a film version of novels by Orhan Pamuk

-Remniscent of romantic Old Europe, but also with a vibe and look that's all its own. (Turks apparently want to identify with Europe - who wouldn't? I can tell this is the image the director wants to portray - not Central Asian, not Middle Eastern, and not "Oriental.")

-Loves its cats; the people are PETA types, altruistic, animal-loving. (Director has lived in the US since her teens, so of course the US animal welfare culture is heavily within her.)

-Refreshingly free of an angry animal-rights vibe (It's not a Michael Moore film, or an animal welfare film that's overly preachy, but does have an altruistic animal lover vibe running through it.)

-The Istanbul residents are creative, philosophical, kind of Zen, relaxed, happy, and cool in a unique way. (This is how the director wants to see herself, and these are her friends and acquaintances, so of course these are the people she interviews.)

Obviously, the director feels very close and loving towards Istanbul and its people and cats. ^^ I thought it was interesting how Turks related to cats vs. Americans. In the US, alley cats and pet cats alike would surely be fed manufactured cat food. But most of the Turks in the film fed the cats raw people food, like fish, sliced meat, etc. And they threw the food directly on the ground for the cats to eat, while Americans would consider that taboo and dirty. We feed even stray and feral cats from bowls.

Anyway, if you're a cat lover or art film lover - run, don't walk to see this film! It's probably the sweetest, prettiest, and most educational documentary of the year. Istanbul was never really on the radar for me, but now it's on my list of must-visit places.

The director, Ceyda Torun, was apparently born in Istanbul, moved to the Middle East when she was 11, went to high school in NYC, and now lives in LA. So that explains the film and provides context for it. Torun reminds me of a softer, more dreamy, and less femi-Nazi version of Man Repeller, who's from NYC and of Turkish/Iranian descent.

I am a huge cat person so I was naturally invested in this documentary, and I don't recall ever seeing something on the subject of Istanbul and its hugely unique population of cats, which I found immensely engrossing. It is my dream to one day travel far across and meet that beautiful city and witness the grandness of its majestic cats, everywhere on sight. Speaking about the documentary itself, it narrates visually through the eyes of many felines that wander through the city freely, and we hear wonderful stories from its owners, or rather, the people who look after and care for them as they come and go willingly.

It's compelling how all these people are connected to cats, and how they are a part of everyone's daily life, they can't imagine their lives without their existence. It sends a powerful message of union which intensifies the image of these magnificent creatures and also the people, because it is not all about cats, it's a charming combination of them plus the beautiful Istanbul and its marvelous, caring people.

So, even if you are not a cat person, this documentary provides useful insight on what cats are really like, although I should tell you that there is absolutely nothing like experiencing it for yourself, and building a connection with your cat companion, which is truly unique. Nevertheless this sort of helps you understand them in a way. But there is a difference, because most cats in Instanbul live at liberty, that is not the case for me because I own two cats which live with me in my house, which I'm sure it is the case for many people across the world. So in more than one way, Istanbul is really a special place.

Highly recommend Kedi, which is the Turkish word for "cat". Your welcome.

This movie was wonderful. Whether you're a cat lover or not, it's hilarious, poignant, and amazingly well-shot.

The cinematography of capturing so many cats at play, fighting, protecting their babies, etc. must have been absolutely grueling, so huge kudos to the filmmakers for presenting a work which so obviously shows care was taken to get these amazing visuals.

Kedi is a love letter to the cats of Istanbul, and their guardian angels who keep them fed and sheltered. Go see it!

"Kedi" (2016 release from Turkey; 80 min.) is a documentary about the thousands of stray cats (street cats) all over Istanbul. As the movie opens, we get a fabulous aerial view of the city, and then get to know a number of cats, starting with a female cat who is out hunting food on the streets, not for herself but as it turns out for her small kittens who are anxiously waiting her return. And that's just the start of this...

Couple of comments: if you don't care for cats, then by all means do yourself a favor and seek out another movie. If on the other hand you love cats, you are in for an absolutely delightful treat. Apparently as we learn in this film, Istanbul, itself a huge metropolis, is home to many street cats, and the city's population (at least for the most part) has taken upon itself to care for these cats, and to outright love them. The movie focuses on a handful of cats, all of them with their own personality (the "fish thief", the "carefree", the "flirt", etc.). A number of shots are filmed from the cat's perspective (i.e. close to ground level). Along the way, we get a fabulous look of what day-to-day life in Istanbul is like. At one point a woman comments "it is difficult for women to express their femininity in this country, but the cats do it so gracefully", a dig as to the social environment for women in Turkey, even in a cosmopolitan city like Istanbul. But in the end, it's all about the cats: they hunt, they play, they roam the streets, they fight, they climb, and along the way they steal your heart.

I had heard a glowing review of "Kedi" on NPR a week or two ago and when "Kedi" opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, I couldn't wait to see it. The Friday evening where I saw this at was PACKED, much to my surprise, and the audience absolutely LOVED the movie, laughing out loud many times throughout the movie. After the movie was over, I couldn't wait to get home, where I knew my beloved cat Mimic would be waiting for me ;-) If you love cats, you don't want to miss this, be it in the theater, on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray. "Kedi" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This movie made me fall in love with my cats again. The beautiful cinematography and the limited story line was a treat to watch. I have always admired Turkey and after watching this I want to be there as quick as possible. Cat lovers are special people and we can see so many sweet people in there. I smiled so much looking at them with tears in my eyes. Thank you for this.