Taşkafa Stories of the Street

Taşkafa is a real dog and also a legend on the streets of Istanbul John Berger begins Taşkafas story reading from his novel King the story of the disappearance of a community told from a dogs perspective The areas ordinary people taxi drivers shopkeepers street traders care deeply about the welfare of the citys street dogs and they tell us stories about Taşkafa and their other canine neighbours The animals are a symbol of community living where people and dogs look out for each other but this is a community in transition one from which dogs are starting to be expelled Eccentric amusing and very warm the film is a powerful indictment of the impact of global politics and the economic appropriation of public space but even more it is a tribute to both the spirit of resistance and to city life that can accommodate people and dogs together