Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.


Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.


Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.


These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

The Valley

The Valley (Obscured by Clouds/La Vallee). Barbet Schroeder, 1972.
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Edition screened: BFI Blu-ray, released 2010. French and Tos Pisin (New Guinea Pidgin) languages with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 105 minutes.

Summary: Pig butchering

Details:
1) We hear a gunshot, followed by mournful handling of a dead exotic bird during dialogue, 1:02:46-1:03:35.
2) We see several pigs clubbed to death, 1:20:18-1:21:04, then a brief scene of their carcasses being scraped of hair, 1: 21:45-1:21:55.

The killing of the pigs cannot be overlooked. The gentle intelligent animals squeal in pain and try to flee for their lives. 

However.  The scene is over comparatively quickly and is part of an important tribal celebration in which the animals are eaten with respect and purpose. This contrasts sharply with the longer, gratuitously graphic scenes of animal murder and mutilation in several Les Blank films celebrating American rural life. Blank showcases asinine rural buffoons mutilating animals, beer in hand, for the entertainment of their cackling wives and mutant-looking children. That, of course, is presented as adorable folk culture from better times in a better ’murika.

The Valley is a gorgeous, spiritual film, and viewing is recommended. If you like, simply fast-forward to around 1:22 as soon as the pigs are brought onscreen. Also note that the beautiful green snake encountered around 46 minutes into the film is not abused in any way.

The BFI dual-format release also includes three short documentaries of life among the New Guinea tribe. These films are longer versions of scenes in The Valley:

Le Cochon aux patates (Pork with sweet potatoes), approximately 8 minutes.😿😿😿
Marquillages (Make-up), approximately 12 minutes.😸
Sing Sing (Singing), approximately 5 minutes.😸
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