Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Kedi Blu-ray Movie Review

"The love of animals is a different kind of love..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 26, 2025

"Without the cat, Istanbul would lose its soul." Kedi lives up to this early declaration, though how it does so remains something of a mystery to me, or at the very least a surprise. What begins as a seemingly simple documentary about street cats in Istanbul -- constructed of vignettes following various cats who are full of character -- slowly becomes a unique travelogue, then changes again and becomes a different film entirely; one that documents the centuries-old relationship between humans and animal in a city of life, love, loss and a sense of freedom unlike anything we see on this side of the Atlantic. Little is explained, almost everything is intuited, and the documentary wisely allows the people of Istanbul to piece together the story of the cats that roam their alleyways and markets, surviving on instinct and the generosity of their human hosts.

Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people's lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the worlds of the wild and the tamed can. Cats and their kittens bring joy and purpose to those they choose, giving people an opportunity to reflect on life and their place in it. In Istanbul, cats are the mirrors to humanity. In place of narration the documentary utilizes interviews with local artisans, shop owners and citizens, music by Kira Fontana, and the sounds of the city and its denizens.

Kedi Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kedi's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer looks quite good for a documentary of its YouTube Red ilk, without anything in the way of issues that might raise serious concerns. There are anomalies here and there -- artifacting and aliasing, dips in clarity and softer shots, and some tricky cityscape shots captured with lesser cameras -- but none of it seems to trace to Oscilloscope's encoding efforts. Colors are warm and lifelike, splashed with natural rays of light and a source of vivid primaries, satisfying blacks and vibrant contrast leveling. Detail is quite good too, with plenty of crisp shots and well-resolved glimpses into the lives of the cats of Istanbul.

Kedi Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Kedi's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track follows suit. Voices are clear and intelligible, though interviews are somewhat sparse. Music is playful and buoyant, bouncing nicely along with the cats as they go about their day. And the sounds of the city are subtly enveloping, creating a light sense of space and place and capturing the hustle and bustle of life in Istanbul. Meows and other cat sounds obviously rule the soundscape but there's a serene balance of all the elements, allowing for the soundfield to work its wiles.

Kedi Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries - Two feature-length audio commentaries are available: the first a serious track with director Ceyda Torum, producer and cinematographer Charlie Wupperman, and editor Mo Stoebe, and the second a tongue-in-cheek track (that really commits to the bit) with meowing Gamsiz, Bengu and "other feline friends."

• Making of Kedi (HD, 8 minutes) - The filmmakers, adorably dressed as cats, discuss their reasoning behind making the documentary, the beauty and challenges of caring for cats, filming them, and piecing together a documentary that both followed cats and, in the process, examining how ancient the relationship between cats and humans really is.

• Deleted Scenes (HD, 12 minutes) - "Along the Bosphorus: The Tramp and the Fisherman," "Beyoglu: Esmer and the Carpenter," "Kadikoy: The Kittens and the Fruit Vendor," "Sultanahmet: Mother Cat and a Construction Site" and "Tunel: Two Cats and the Tram."

• Extended & Outtake Interviews (HD, 16 minutes) - "Philosophy of Cats," "The Way Things Were," "Bulent Ustun: Comic Artist/Illustrator," "Elif Nursad Atalay: Artist/Painter" and "Mine Sogut: Author/Journalist."

• Kedi Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

• Oscilloscope Trailers (HD)

Kedi Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kedi is a light, lovely little documentary about the intersection between animals and humans in a far-off city that's home to plenty of wonder all its own. The equilibrium that exits between cats and man is a fascinating subject, one not unspooled at any real length, but one shown rather than told. This is a documentary through the lens of the people who live alongside our cast of cat characters, and offers a glimpse into a way of life not so different from our own yet wholly unique. Oscilloscope's Blu-ray is an easy one to recommend too, thanks to solid AV quality and a welcome complement of extras.