Today, we will briefly look over the historical and cultural attitudes towards animal rights in filmmaking. Before looking at some examples of pro-vegan/animal rights films (old and new) to see how their messages were delivered and how they have changed.

Animal Rights in Cinema

Cinema has a long history of animal cruelty, from the cruelty inflicted on film horses for early Western and historicals to the horrors of Heaven’s Gate, which led to SAG and the AMPTP contracting the American Humane Association to oversee animal treatment in films. However, even recent films like Life of Pi show that cinema is still willing to mistreat animals for art.

That is not to say that film workers don’t care about animals. We should also be wary not to fall into racist stereotyping when discussing international cinema that shows animal cruelty and films that feature the practices of Indigenous peoples. However, with large-scale animal slaughter, testing etc being so ingrained in society, animal well-being is often devalued. This is often further compounded by tight finances incentivising filmmakers to cut corners.

That said, rising awareness around healthy eating and social justice among millennials, coupled with concerns around climate change (with deforestation and industrial food production impacting climate as well as animals) have led to a growth in people identifying as vegan and a growing movement for environmental and animal justice over the decades. Which in turn has led to films exploring both themes.

Green Gems

Of course, movies with pro-vegan and animal rights themes are not limited to the modern era. Blood of the Beasts (1949) showcased the brutality of slaughterhouses and through its juxtaposition with suburban France showed how a supposedly idyllic life is built on violence. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) comments on how slaughterhouse practices impact those who work in them. Also, its brutal allusions to violence encourages viewers to see the characters as animals being killed for meat. PETA listed it as one of the 10 movies to make you go meatless. There is also the double bill of Watership Down (1978) and Plague Dogs (1982). Both used animal characters to comment on how brutally humanity impacts their lives. Through changing their environments and experimenting with them.

One thing these examples have in common, aside from being independent productions, is that despite having animal rights themes they never explicitly vocalise action to stop these practices. Instead making audiences draw their own conclusions.

Evolving Times?

Nowadays we still see films that focus on animals being abused and killed to elicit sympathy for animals. Examples include acclaimed documentaries like The Cove and Blackfish.

But there have also been films that have favourably advocated for explicit action regarding both subjects. For example, while it has numerous flaws, Christspiracy uses its questionable narrative thrust to encourage activism and to link movements for social and environmental justice to those of animal rights. Saying a fight for a better world must ensure both humans and animals are treated better.

Then there is Okja. One of the best high-profile animal rights stories. Through great performances and CGI, we can see what animals mean to people and the emotions that animals are capable of. Therefore when the Animal Liberation Front come to help our hero get Okja back we see them in a sympathetic light. Largely mainstream movies have shown militant animal rights activists as naive people who just end up causing trouble (see 28 Days Later‘s opening). And while the ALF do questionable things the film always portrays them as fighting for the right reasons. To save as many animals as possible from a corporation that is killing them on a mass scale. It’s a film that makes animal rights activists into actual characters, not caricatures and dares to say they are right.

Conclusion

It is unclear if the current landscape will continue to inspire more thoughtful and forthright animal rights films. But there have always been filmmakers willing to challenge the status quo. Plus in the fight for a better world, why should animals not also be cared for?

The post Lights, Camera, Compassion: The Evolution of Animal Rights Films appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

The Wizard of Oz

Toto is film’s most famous dog for a reason. His relationship with Dorothy is central to The Wizard of Oz’s narrative. It’s because of Toto getting in trouble that Dorothy runs away from home ultimately leading to her trip to Oz. Throughout the film, Toto acts as Dorothy’s tether to the real world and he embodies the story’s themes of courage, love, and brains through his actions and symbolises home for Dorothy. Toto is still the high watermark of cinematic canine characters because of how much personality he has and how he brings out the best in his human partner.

Umberto D.

Here comes the list’s first tear-jerker. This classic neo-realist film follows Umberto Domenico Ferrari, an older man who is having trouble paying his rent on a meagre pension. Umberto’s one constant companion is his dog Flike who both love each other unconditionally. Umberto does everything to find Flike when he goes missing and Flike provides meaning to Umberto when he becomes homeless. Umberto D. is a beautiful plea to hold onto what is precious to you and to know that love can always be found somewhere.

The Plague Dogs

Watership Down’s spiritual successor focuses on Rowf and Snitter, two dogs who escape from an animal testing facility. With them having nowhere to go and humanity beginning to hunt them down for fear they are carrying the plague they soon find themselves reverting back to their wild state of being. Plague Dogs is a hard watch but its exploration of humanity’s cruelty to animals through the perspective of its supposed best friend makes the message extra poignant.

Scooby-Doo

A beloved nostalgic treat for many, Scooby-Doo translates the Mystery Inc. crew into live-action form with hilarious results. The crowning achievement is Scooby’s on-screen realisation, who, poorly aged CG aside, manages to have a real presence thanks to some good direction, Neil Fanning’s great voice work and committed performances from the main cast particularly Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. This definitely shows the funner side of our dog friends.

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale

Another tear-jerker. Hachi is based on the real-life story of Hachiko, an Akita who would wait at the train station every day for his master to return from work (If you don’t know anything more about the story then please watch the film before reading anything else). This emotional story really shows how loyal dogs can be to their owners and drives home the importance of memories. Be sure to bring the tissues.

Stray

This unique documentary follows stray dog Zeytin as she and her companions journey around Istanbul where it is illegal to euthanise stray dogs. Stray is an interesting commentary on the nature of dogs free from human constraints. But it also yet again provides a great amount of commentary on humanity. As we see Zeytin is treated with much more compassion than many humans living on the streets. A definite call for us to show as much kindness to our fellow people as our animals.

So ends our recommendation round of good dog movies. We hope you enjoy these suggestions. Don’t worry cat lovers, your time will come.

Also Read: When Animals Attack: Movies With An Animal Antagonist

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