Kedi
(2016)Documentary profile of seven of the thousands of cats that roam Istanbul, each neither tame nor wild.... More
For millennia, cats have roamed the city of Istanbul. Granted freedom and respect, they wander in and out of people's lives, an essential part of this rich and proud city. Claiming no owners, they live between two worlds. They bring joy and purpose to those they choose to adopt, acting as mirrors to the people of Istanbul and allowing them to reflect on their lives in unique and touching ways. Observing the lives of seven very different cats, and the people who know them, Kedi is an examination of one of our oldest animal companions, and the ways they enrich our lives.Hide
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Directed by Ceyda Torun (feature debut)
Starring Bülent Üstün
Out Now (On-Demand,
DVD or Blu-Ray)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 3 providers
Flicks Review
BY Steve Newall Flicks Writer
If you belong to things like Cool Fun Cat Group on Facebook like I do, you’ll love this light look at the cats of Instanbul. Free-ranging across the city, they have no defined abodes besides those they adopt for themselves, and their personalities are likewise allowed to flourish. Kedi introduces a bunch of lovable felines, described with loving admiration by the humans that dote on them, and dares anyone that’s not Gareth Morgan to sigh and smile their way through the film.... More
One of my “pet” peeves in animal docos is the unnecessary anthropomorphising of their subjects, ascribing them human thoughts in order to shape the film’s narrative. There’s no shortage of rumination on the inner lives of cats in Kedi, but it is both rewarding and in service of the film’s purpose that it comes from the citizens of Istanbul who take an interest in the cats of the title. The seven cats depicted here remain inscrutable in the face of human speculation, like cats have done throughout time, as they go about eliciting sighs of happiness from the doco’s audience.
Easy-going in mood and pacing, Kedi patiently follows a variety of felines through their routines, seemingly living very charmed lives in a city that prides itself on taking care of its cats. They may not play up to the cameras (unless you subscribe to the view that cats own us, rather than the other way round), instead it is left to the people in their lives to unintentionally reveal aspects of themselves as they talk about their relationships to these furry friends.Hide
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Kedi
BY freshdude superstar
Being a self confessed dog person, but having heard only great things about this film, I decided to watch it, half expecting to found it ho-hum. What a great surprise it was to get utterly entertained, charmed and engaged by those seven cats from Istanbul.
First time director Ceyda Torun certainly achieves a delightful yet meditative work here, accompanied by a great soundtrack, KEDI is a winner.
BY Ian_Anderson superstar
Even taking the time to watch a film like... More this is a form of therapy.Hide
The Press Reviews
A collective portrait that's as elegant as its light-footed subjects, it's guaranteed to soothe a weary mind, and just might lower blood pressure too. Full Review
By the time "Kedi" puts these animals through their paces, only one essential question remains unanswered: Will the dogs of the Dardanelles demand equal exposure? This could be a trend. Full Review
The movie is replete with ingeniously constructed mini-narratives, including a turf war. The mesmerising score by Kira Fontana, interspersed with well-chosen Turkish pop, is a real asset. Full Review
The picture's pleasures are bountiful, particularly for cat lovers... Full Review
We're down on the ground with these animals, whose day-to-day impulsiveness finds a sinuous expression in some of the most elegant camerawork to ever grace a nature doc. Full Review
Kedi will make you a believer. Full Review
Kedi stands as a subtle, gentle rebuke to such politico-architectural folly. Full Review
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