The topic of this documentary is simple, yet brilliant. They are a daily part of our lives, living in most every corner of the world, both outdoors and indoors and close to many of us. Yet as often as we encounter them, they are still endlessly fascinating.
Yes, Kedi is a documentary about cats, and the people who love them.
Kedi, a word which means “cat” in Turkish, follows the lives of seven cats of Istanbul. Director and cat lover Ceyda Torun describes the film as “a love letter to those cats and the city,” and you can get a peek at how she has a talent for drawing out their individual personalities in this trailer.
Ceyda Torun explains the prevalence of cats in the city of Istanbul at KediFilm:
“Cats have been a part of the city for thousands of years, and so, everyone who grows up in Istanbul or lives in Istanbul has a story about a cat. Stories that are memorable; sometimes scary, sometimes spiritual, but always very personal.”
Kedi has already received many loving reviews, from both cat-lovers and non-cat-lovers alike. Sheila O’Malley at RogerEbert.com notes:
“I am a cat owner, I admit, but even I was surprised at the power of Kedi. Where did all that emotion come from? It’s because what Torun really captures in her unexpectedly powerful film is kindness in its purest form.”
Kedi is in theaters now.
