"It is an iceberg of a film - what appears above the surface barely scratches at the behemoth of emotion lurking within." – Tom Augustine, NEW ZEALAND HERALD
"Stray, like Kedi, is a provocative essay about how we treat our fellow animals, human and non-human alike." - Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
"Lo inspects both the faultlines and fringes of the Turkish society and ponders profound philosophical questions concerning humanity." - Tomris Laffly, VARIETY
Through the eyes of three stray dogs wandering the streets of Istanbul, STRAY explores what it means to live as a being without status or security. As they search for food and shelter, Zeytin, Nazar and Kartal embark on inconspicuous journeys through Turkish society that allow us an unvarnished portrait of human life — and their own canine culture. Zeytin, fiercely independent, embarks on solitary adventures through the city at night; Nazar, nurturing and protective, easily befriends the humans around her; while Kartal, a shy puppy living on the outskirts of a construction site, finds refuge with the security guards who care for her. The disparate lives of Zeytin, Nazar and Kartal intersect when they each form intimate bonds with a group of young Syrians who share the streets with them. Whether they lead us into bustling streets or decrepit ruins, the gaze of these strays act as windows into the overlooked corners of society: women in loveless marriages, protesters without arms, refugees without sanctuary. The film is a critical observation of human civilization through the unfamiliar gaze of dogs and a sensory voyage into new ways of seeing.
Awards:
Winner - Best International Documentary, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, 2020
Nominated - Documentaire Extraordinaire, Bergen International Film Festival, 2020
Nominated - Best First Documentary Feature, Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, 2020
Nominated - Best Film, Gijón International Film Festival, 2020
Nominated - Bronze Horse, Best Documentary, Stockholm Film Festival, 2020
Nominated - Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film and Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, Cinema Eye Honors Awards, 2021
Nominated - Truer Than Fiction Award, Film Independent Spirit Awards, 2021