Kedi: The Cats of Istanbul

Whether you're a cat lover or just on the fence, be sure to see Kedi, a wonderful movie about the street cats of Istanbul.

You may not fall in love with them, but you'll respect these ingenious animals who interact with humans but prefer the freedom of the streets.

You'll see a mother cat beg for morsels at an outdoor cafe and then bring them home to her kittens.

You'll see a cat who earns his keep as a mouser (or rather a ratter).  You'll see two females squabbling over a male.  

And you'll experience the joy and comfort these animals bring to the humans around them.

Here's a summary from Rotten Tomatoes:

"Kedi is not a documentary about house cats or the strays you occasionally see in your back yard.  Kedi is a film about the hundreds of thousands of cats who have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people's lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the world of the wild and the tame can. Cats and their kittens bring joy and purpose to those they choose, giving people an opportunity to reflect on life and their place in it.  In Istanbul, cats are the mirrors to ourselves.  "Cats--tabbies, calicos, angoras, Norwegian forest cats, ginger cats, grey cats, black cats, white cats, black and white cats--all kinds of cats roam the city, free, without a human master. Some fend for themselves, scavenging from dumpsters, living in abandoned buildings; others are cared for by communities of people, pampered with the best cat food and given shelter for the cold months.  Cats have been 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.  Street cats are such a big part of the culture that when U.S. President Barack Obama visited Istanbul, part of the tour included a stop at the Hagia Sophia to visit its famous cat, Gil.  Cats are as integral to the identity of Istanbul as its monuments, the Bosporus, tea, raki and fish restaurants."

Rotten Tomatoes gives Kedi a 97% fresh rating.  Peter Keough of the Boston Globe says, "This film lasts only 80 minutes but I could have watched a version three times as long."

My rating:  100%