“A simple work of genius. I have never seen a feature film like this. The dogs are not being used by the human filmmakers to tell a human story — we are here to let the dogs tell us their story, even if we haven't a clue what's going on inside their heads.”

Michael Moore

Whether through bustling streets or decrepit ruins, the gaze of three stray dogs provides a window into the overlooked corners of Turkish society. Zeytin, Nazar and Kartal lead us on inconspicuous journeys throughout Istanbul, allowing for unusual and unvarnished portraits of human and canine life.

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.

Recorded via Zoom.

Winner of Jury Prize: Best International Feature Film at Hot Docs International Film Festival 2020. Screened at CPH:DOX 2021.

Film: https://dogwoof.com/stray

Website: https://www.elizabeth-lo.com/