The real sultans of Istanbul: Cats
A new documentary that follows seven of Istanbul's hundreds of thousands of famous cats is getting claws-up reviews from critics and viewers as screenings begin this weekend.
Istanbul’s love of cats is world-famous. From tributes to Tombili, the late feline phenomenon, to social media photos and short clips, cat lovers can find their fill of cat accolades posted from the streets of Istanbul. And now that love has been documented in a new film.
The cats are strays but have names. Their favorite hangouts and foods are well-known to locals. Kids grow up hearing the warning, “If you kill a cat, you have to build a mosque to receive God’s forgiveness.”
The neighborhoods take care of them, yet they have no official owners.
So how would you like to see a cat’s daily life on the streets of Istanbul? The movie "Kedi" (Turkish for "cat") will show you. It’s not animated, as some might expect. Ceyda Torun, the director of "Kedi," was six months pregnant when she and her crew started shooting in the streets and alleys of the megalopolis in April 2014. The actors in the documentary are peculiar: seven cats, each with a unique character.
