"Cats represent the indescribable mixture, culture and uniqueness, which is also the essence of Istanbul. Without cats, Istanbul will lose a part of its soul." The narration at the beginning of "Istanbul Cats" said.
At the beginning of the movie, the camera looks down at the labyrinth-like intricate city of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait that connects the blue sky, and then follows a little orange-patterned female cat into the streets and lanes, recording how she approached the restaurant The diners begged for food, how did they walk into the shops along the street to get a piece of cake, how did they find a stray cat food station to rest and eat, and finally followed her to a warehouse, and saw that she divided the food among the four little ones waiting to be fed Cat baby. This is the first story recorded in "Istanbul Cats".
The protagonists who wander the streets of Istanbul and beloved by humans in this documentary are different from those in "The Growth of Cute Pets" and "Animal Planet". They are no longer obedient little pets or mischievous naughty ghosts. They are not restrained or possessed by anyone. Humans no longer claim to be "masters". In the eyes of Istanbul people, cats shouldn't be animals kept at home. They treat cats more like neighbors who help and support each other. What the documentary tells is the tenderness between cats and human neighbors, as well as the ancient, complex, mysterious and inclusive city they are in: Istanbul.
This ancient city built on the headland between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea, straddling Eurasia, has experienced the rule of ancient Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, and blended ancient Rome, Orthodox and Islam. Mixed architectural styles and cultural characteristics. The battle for supremacy between empires, the bloody feud between religions, and the tumult between races have brought this city through vicissitudes and witnessed the rise and decline of several empires. No matter how the residents of this city change their skin and hair color, cats are always the most comfortable street masters in this city.
In the film, a painter talked about the number of cats coming to Istanbul, so many breeds, so rich. Origin: The port at the foot of Cihangir Mountain was once the busiest trading hub of the Ottoman Empire. Sailors from all over the world kept cats on their ships. To prevent rodent infestation. After unloading and landing, the cat did not have time to catch the ship returning to the city, and was left in the city forever. Later, the Ottoman Empire built the first sewer system, which also caused the rampage of rats, so every household raised cats to deal with it.
Humans’ fascination with cats is believed to be the randomness of cats’ response to humans with the mystery of gambling, and this is more for humans who confine cats as pets in their homes. In Istanbul, cat lovers place their cats on food, water, and a tolerance of non-disturbance, but they get different things. Some people get the power to heal their own diseases from cats, some get their own salvation in the process of caring for the cat, and some get comfort from the cat’s company, and even more people appreciate the cat’s unique enchanting gait and charming posture. The obliterated feminine characteristics of Islamic women in robes.
The city's tolerance for cats originated earlier from the rumor that the Prophet Muhammad loved cats, which seems to have a lot to do with the religious background behind it. Mohammed’s words and deeds mentioned that after praying, the Prophet Muhammad found a cat sleeping on his robe sleeve. In order not to wake the sleeping cat, the Prophet cut off his sleeve and let the cat continue to sleep. To this day, the people of Istanbul still have religious awe of cats. They believe that cats are "the middleman between man and God", "they absorb negative energy and release positive energy." In the film, a cat-feeder said that when he went bankrupt, a cat showed up and led him to a purse, and the purse was just 120 lire he needed. In his opinion, this is the Allah Almighty and Almighty. Of gifts. Because of the unpredictable, carefree and nonchalant nature of these street cats, they are creatures closer to God in people's eyes.
The reason why cats are considered "part of the soul of this city" comes more from the living space it breathes with the old city of Istanbul. In the intricate city network, they can flexibly walk through the lively and crowded Bazaar, settle in remote warehouses and have children, accept the caress of tourists in historical sites, and even help restaurant owners drive away mice. They can be next to the fish shop on the dock. Playing the role of poachers, more often, they swaggered and jumped down the streets, fighting for territory and jealous. The life path of street cats also outlines the life picture of the residents of this city.
The modernization of Istanbul is accompanied by the rise of high-rise buildings, the widening of roads and the increase of vehicles, which makes people living in the old city feel uneasy. It is not only that their livelihood markets and shops will be forced to close. More worried that the living space of stray cats on the street is threatened. The worry behind this is more that a city is moving towards a uniform international urban environment, and those proud humanistic care, trivial and warm fireworks, and diverse and inclusive old neighborhoods are crushing the pace of modernization. The rolling is gradually squeezed.
Except for the slightly heavy topic of urban modernization, the visual and auditory enjoyment brought by this documentary can be described as pleasing to the eye. The high-definition camera recorded the clever eyes and gestures of the street cats, as well as the magnificent and solemn places of interest in the background, the anglers on the Catalla Bridge and the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Bosphorus. The soundtrack is even more icing on the cake. With the light footsteps of the street cats foraging, the crisp percussive sound and the Turkish-style minor tunes bring out a cheerful and joyful rhythm. And the agile figure waiting for the rat to appear in the night, also appeared serious and serious in the long stretch of admiration music.
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