For many centuries, Istanbul has
been a cat city. Through history, these
cats have witnessed how the city changed hands between empires, how it shrunk
and grew. They have roamed freely,
masterless but regularly cared for by admirers.
Apparently, this has always been the case.
The Turkish documentary film Kedi shows the impact of these street
cats on the daily lives of the people of Istanbul in the present. It centers on seven particular cats – Sari,
Duman, Bengü, Aslan Parçasi, Gamsiz, Psikopat, and Deniz – who have managed to
bring delight and provoke reflection to those they have chosen to interact
with.
If what’s shown in this
documentary is authentic and natural, then Istanbul must be the best place in
the world for cats, as its stray cats seem to be the healthiest, cleanest,
happiest stray cats in the world, while the people are so gracious and caring –
or, at least, extremely tolerant and friendly – to them.
Being a cat person all of my life,
I’ve always found cats to be adorable and hilarious. Thus, Kedi
mightily appealed to me. The footage constantly
made me go, “Awwww.” Thanks to the
fantastic camera work, which includes really effective “street level” shots, the
feline cuteness and antics are wonderfully exhibited, with the Mediterranean
atmosphere of Istanbul serving as an alluring, cozy background.
On the other hand, I never really
cared much for the people being interviewed, though their musings – especially when
they attempt to interpret the behavior of the cats they are being interviewed
about – enhanced my enjoyment. Sometimes,
they’re somewhat insightful. Sometimes,
they’re pretentious. Either way, I found
that there’s amusement to be had from their offered thoughts.
In the end, Kedi isn’t for everyone.
Some may even get bored by it.
But for cat lovers, the beautiful cinematography, the innate charm of
cats, and the even pacing will work together to entrance like visual catnip.
No comments:
Post a Comment