Kedi — a love letter to the street cats of Istanbul
March 1, 2017
There’s a new movie in theatres right now called Kedi and it’s all about…CATS! A charming film portraying the lives of street cats living in the busy hub of Istanbul.
The film follows the lives of seven cats — Sari the Hustler, Duman the Gentleman, Bengü the Lover, Aslan Parçasi the Hunter, Gamsiz the Player, Psikopat the Psycho, Deniz the Social Butterfly — and shows how they spend their days and nights on the streets. Each cat has its own personality, which won’t surprise any cat owner, and possesses a certain skill that helps them to survive on the street in one way or another. Director and Producer Ceyda Torun describes the movie as philosophical, a love letter to the cats of Istanbul where she grew up and who have always roamed freely, co-existing with their human companions in complete harmony.
She says: I grew up in Istanbul and I believe my childhood was infinitely less lonesome than it would have been if it werenʼt for cats — and I wouldnʼt be the person I am today. They were my friends and confidants and I missed their presence in all the other cities I ever lived in. This film is, in many ways, a love letter to those cats and the city, both of which are changing in ways that are unpredictable.
With beautiful cinematography and panoramic views of the exotic city, Kedi is a film that shows a softer side of human nature through our relationship with cats. Historically, cats have shared a special relationship with humans, and are revered in many cultures. The same is true in Istanbul. To see so many of them — tabbies, calicos, angoras, norwegian forest cats; ginger cats, grey cats, black cats, white cats, black and white cats — thriving on the streets of a busy metropolis is quite remarkable and touching.
Torun says, “I hope this film makes you feel like you have just had a cat snuggle up on your lap unexpectedly and purr endlessly for a good long time, while allowing you to stroke it gently along itʼs back, forcing you, by the sheer fact that you canʼt move without letting go of that softness and warmth, into thinking about things that you may not have given yourself time to think about in the busy life you lead.”
Torun taps into the pulse of the city to show you the heart of its people through the eyes of the cat. It is snapshot of a romantic time and one last glimpse of a city whose residents, feline and human, will never be the same again. Don’t miss it!
Here's the trailer: