STRAY

US, 2020, 72 minutes, Colour.

Zeytin, Nazar, Kartal.

Directed by Elizabeth Lo.

If it’s dogs you are after, look no further. Even the dogs, named above in the credits, have their photos in the IMDb cast-list! - And are identified as “self – stray dog”.

The setting is mainly is Istanbul, with some ventures into the Turkish countryside. And we are given information that from 1909, the Turkish government had made determined efforts to rid Istanbul of its myriads stray dogs – unsuccessfully, it would seem, until there was pressure to change the legislation and allow the strays the freedom to stray.

Director, Elizabeth Lo, who serves as her own cinematographer, obviously has a passion for photographing dogs. And, for an audience which enjoys looking at dogs, admiring them, sometimes amazed at their behaviour, this film is quite an indulgence. Interestingly, the star dogs always look so well-groomed even as they wander the city. And, there are close-ups, enabling the dogs to manifest their personalities.

Scattered throughout the film there are also some quotations from the Greek philosopher, Diogenes, critical of humans and their behaviour and an exhortation that we should study canine models.

Which means then that we follow the three dogs, one wandering the city, another more friendly towards humans, and a nice puppy who takes refuge with a group of workers. And, throughout the film, there is a group of children, on the streets, homeless, drugs, quite a contrast in their straying with that of the dogs.

Normally on a Sunday in the park near where this reviewer lives, a large number of dog enthusiasts gather for training and tutorials. And, during lockdown, there were many humans and dogs for their daily exercise in the park. Which probably means that there is quite a substantial audience for this film throughout the suburbs, throughout the cities, in the towns and countryside. (But, a reminder and caution that there are those who are impervious to the charms of dogs, any dogs!)