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. 2020, USA, 72 minutes, documentary.
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Advance tickets are now on sale. After the film becomes available March 5th at 3:00 am EST, you’ll have 30 days to start watching. Once you begin, you’ll have 72 hours to finish watching. PLEASE NOTE: customers who wish to see Stray to their TVs may do so via AirPlay and Chromecast enabled devices; there are also dedicated Eventive apps available on Apple TV and Roku. Customers who require assistance, please visit Eventive’s FAQ and live chat support: https://watch.eventive.org/help
Discuss Stray on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00PM. Josh Abolt, Kennel Manager at Hi-Tor Animal Care Center, will discuss Stray with Suzanne Mitchell of Rockland Organized for Sustainability and a Safe Aquifer (ROSA) and director of Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde. REGISTER HERE.
The Guernica website has a fascinating interview with the director, Elizabeth Lo, published in partnership with New York’s Film Forum. “Wang: It quickly establishes her as the opposite of pet dogs, who are often leashed precisely so they don’t run into traffic. Lo: That’s such an underestimation of another species’ intelligence, which is what we perpetually do. These initial scenes show that dogs can do things on their own terms, even if it’s difficult and they live in a world that’s not of their creation.” Read the whole interview here.
“[A] virtuosic feature documentary debut. The ultimate love letter to dogs.”
Tomris Laffly, Variety
“A howling success. STRAY shines a piercing light on what it means to be an outcast in a teeming metropolis.”
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
**WINNER**
Best International Feature Documentary – Hot Docs
“Dog lovers will drool over this profound canine love letter from Turkey. [A] gorgeous, absorbing snapshot of several stray dogs on the streets of Istanbul. The dogs run most of the show, and they serve as remarkable centerpieces in a complex visual tapestry loaded with tender closeups that contemplate the consciousness on display.” – Eric Kohn, IndieWire
“Captivating and immersive. There’s a tremendous amount of human skill, empathy, observational power and narrative shaping in [Lo’s] mesmerizing canine saga.” – Scott Macaulay, Filmmaker Magazine
