【Kedi】Istanbul, The City of Purrs

Picture: Nothing But Geek

Film: Kedi
Year: 2016
Country: Turkey
Genre: Documentary
Director: Ceyda Torun

Ratings: ★★★☆☆

"If you can enjoy the presence of a cat, a bird, a flower, all the worlds will be with you."

Istanbul is the major city in Turkey which straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Straits but what many people did not notice is the little souls in this place. Walking around in this city, you may be surprised by those little purrs which keep showing in every corner of the streets. This is perhaps the only place in the world where people and cats are able to coexist together beneath the same sky and beyond the same land.

Gamsiz is like a little thug at the blocks. Despite fighting with dogs and other cats, forcing the young baker has to take him to the vet at least once on every two weeks, he also likes to visit Lacin across the street. He will sneak to her balcony and knock her windows with the paws, asking for entry. When Lacin lets him in, he will straight go for the food that she prepared for her Gece.

"If you wanted to go out at night, he's the one you d' want to go out with."

Picture: Screenshot by chedoor

Peoples described her as the toughest one among all female cats. She would make the fisherman chasing her along the streets of what she has done - stealing the fish. Even she could fight with the dogs and they all see her as an arch enemy. Her husband respects her a lot and he must wait until she finished her meal only he can go for his turn. Overbearing like her, she would not allow any female cats showing around him and she will definitely fight with them. But the little old man likes her very much, that she has a kind of fighting spirit in her.

"She has qualities that people should have."

Picture: Screenshot by chedoor

Duman and Smokey were found two years ago when the workers of Delicatessen saw them yelling on the street. Starting from that day, they both become the customers of this restaurant who will never pay after so many cheeses, meat and pasta have been fed. But there is one difference from them with other cats - they never ask for food. They will slowly paw at the glass when they found the similar faces, busy at the bar. The workers will slowly take out some smoked meats and Manchego in a very less amount because the vet doctor said they have to keep fit.

"He's a cat with manners. No matter how hungry he is, he won't come in even the door is opened."

This is a film which I will recommend very much to those cat-lovers because you will yell "Awwww" in every single scene of it. The most importantly, what makes this film so gorgeous is the way those people live with these purrs, so peaceful and lovely as you will imagine yourself as one of them in Istanbul.

Cats have lived in what is now Istanbul for thousands of years. They have seen empires rise and fall and the city shrink and grow. Though cared for by many, they lived without a master. And whether adored, despised, or overlooked, they are undeniably a part of everyone's life. 

For those who are interested, please kindly visit the website: https://www.kedifilm.com/

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Video: Youtube