15 Best Hidden Gem Movies Of 2017

Kedi (that’s Turkish for cat) is the feature debut of filmmaker and Istanbul native Ceyda Torun and a charming insight into a lovely local phenomenon in her hometown – the huge stray cat population that has peacefully co-existed alongside the ancient city’s human inhabitants since the days of the Ottoman Empire.

Focusing specifically on seven street cats – including Duman, a kitty with a taste for the finer things in life like deli meats and cheese, and Aslan Parçasi who helps out at a seafood restaurant by keeping mice at bay – and the people who interact with them, it’s a beautifully filmed mix of sweeping panoramic views and cat’s-eye level shots that gives us a unique tour of Istanbul.

It’s not just a film for diehard cat ladies either: anyone with a heart will be enchanted by Kedi and Istanbul’s feline phenomenon. Unless you hate cats, in which case what is wrong with you?