Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
YouTube is known for its cat videos. You know the ones I’m talking about. The viral keyboard-playing superstars, the mewing kittens, the tabbies attempting to leap over crevasses only to fail mid-flight. Now, YouTube is trying to rebrand itself. That is, it has already rebranded itself. YouTube Red is the streaming video platform’s subscription-based service and it already boasts a full library of original full-length films and series. However, today might be the day when some of the original YouTube’s more idle viewers finally make their own cat like leap into the world of YouTube Red. That’s because Kedi, the critically-acclaimed and super cute documentary about street cats in Istanbul, is now streaming exclusively on YouTube Red.
As films go, Kedi is pretty straight-forward. The documentary follows a group of cats as they roam around the city of Istanbul. You see, in Istanbul, people don’t keep cats as pets so the city is full of a roving population of felines that belong to no one. That isn’t to say they are strays. Rather, the cats of Istanbul belong to all the people of Istanbul.
The documentary, directed by Ceyda Torun, gives us an intimate look at the lives of seven cats in the city by positioning the camera so as to lend the audience a “cat’s eye view.” We follow Sari (“The Hustler”), Duman (“The Gentleman”), Bengu (“The Lover”), Asla Parçasi (“The Hunter”), Gamsiz (“The Player”), Psikopat (“The Psycho”), and Deniz (“The Social Butterfly”) as they roam the streets, beg for food, hunt vermin, fight each other, and express real love. The animals are each brought into vivid focus by the Turkish people who know and love them. For each cat, there as at least one human “fan” there to tell you all about their moods and their likes. These people speak for the cats, but do not know everything about them. In fact, some of the cats seem to roam from one person to another, in a series of appointments throughout the day.
This unusual approach gives Kedi a few added layers. Sure, we get to watch some adorable cats scuffle in allies and pounce off ledges, but we also get to know the city of Istanbul from their point of view. We come to know Istanbul and her people through her cats. Speaking of the people, they have their own stories, too. The interviews all double as a slice of life look into their lives. Whether we’re talking about boutique owners or fishermen, these are the people who make up the culture of Istanbul.
What makes Kedi stand out is its earnest beauty. Again, the cinematography is the star of the show. It’s insanely intimate, managing to capture the smallest moments of these animals’ lives; yet it feels unobtrusive. The camera and the unseen interviewer function as mirrors for what’s happening in every nook, cranny, stairwell, rooftop, and ally of the city. And so, something feels undeniably honest about the film. Kedi is extraordinary.
That said, Kedi is not necessarily an obvious choice for YouTube Red’s original slate. YouTube has definitely been evolving past vloggers and epic animal fails. In addition to launching YouTube Red, YouTube also now has a competitive live TV streaming service. YouTube is making moves, you guys! Nevertheless, it still caters to a relatively youthful audience steeped in the fast-paced world of internet culture. It’s not that Kedi is for “olds” per se, but it is an art house affair. Oh, and it’s completely subtitled. If you glance away for just a moment, you might lose your place in what’s going on (or which kitty we’re following). So Kedi is not for anyone with a short attention span; It’s for true film — and feline — enthusiasts.
And so, Kedi is an emblem of YouTube’s ambition. If Kedi is the ultimate cat video, then YouTube wants its subscription-based services to be the ultimate in online video streaming. Kedi is a preview of what may be to come: an evolved YouTube that is maturing along with its billions of young viewers. On any other streaming service, Kedi would be another get, but on YouTube, it’s a proclamation of creative intent.
Like I said, Kedi is extraordinary.
Kedi is now streaming on YouTube Red.
