The cat’s whiskers

Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied
The wonderfully humorous and insightful Kedi (meaning ''cat'' or ''feline'' in Turkish) is both a sweet and good-natured paean to our four-legged friends and an eye-opening, beautifully rendered travelogue around the vibrant and colourful city of Istanbul.

Home to hundreds of thousands of cats who wander the streets, and have done so for centuries, the film effectively and lovingly shows how the residents care for and fuss over their furry companions, shining a light on the city's culture and the way its people approach their daily lives.

With the use of specially designed ''cat-cameras'', allowing the film-makers to follow the felines as they roam down alleyways and across rooftops, we come to intimately know seven of the moggies, each with their own unique and endearing personalities, as they do the rounds and interact with the locals.

My favourite was Duman, also known as The Gentleman, a slightly pudgy, grey-and-white short-hair with the posture of an aristoc(r)at, who likes to politely paw at the window of a fancy delicatessen when hungry, and is rewarded for his good manners with meals of smoked meats and specialty cheeses.

Perhaps most fascinating is how the citizens of Istanbul have a distinctive view of life formed through their intimate relationship with these many charming and self-sufficient creatures. They're as much a varied and essential part of the populace as their human cohabitants.

As a self-confessed cat lover, I doubt any other film this year will put as big a smile on my face.

KEDI

Director: Ceyda Torun
Rating: (G) ★★★+

-By Jeremy Quinn

Comments

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