Kedi

The documentary from Ceyda Torun showcases the locals of Istanbul and their relationship with the street cats who roam the city and are fed, protected, and cared for by its people. Telling us as much about the people who choose to care for them as the cats themselves, from artists to fishermen to restaurant and store owners, Kedi is the kind of life-affirming documentary which will leave you feeling a little sad when you walk down the street and don't find a feline or two waiting for you.

Certainly aimed at a target audience, cat lovers will undoubtedly get more from the documentary than others. Initially choosing to follow 19 cats around the city using a special rig to offer the street level perspective of the film's four-legged stars, Torun decided to trim the film to focus on seven cats (Sari, Duman, Bengü, Aslan Parçasi, Gamsiz, Psikopat, and Deniz). along with some Samaritans who each feed and entire block of cats.

Torun may have unintentionally crafted the best tourist video I've ever seen. Kedi sells us not only on the cats and people but on the city of Istanbul itself which proves to be an extra character highlighted through some wonderful cinematography. The film makes a strong argument for the therapeutic nature of the residents' relationship with the cats which feeds their souls as much, if not more, than what they give their furry four-legged friends.

[Oscilloscope Laboratories, Blu-ray $39.99 / DVD $34.99]