A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron). Roy Andersson, 2014.
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Edition screened: Included in Artificial Eye 4-Blu-ray box set The Roy Andersson Collection, released 2015. Swedish language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 99 minutes.
Summary: Depicted cruel animal experimentation
Details: A laboratory monkey (clearly an automaton) is tied spread eagle while electrodes in its head deliver shocks, 1:21:22-1:22:59. We see the monkey shudder in pain with each jolt.
Andersson’s film is an extended and thoughtful meditation on aspects of human existence, often poignant, sometimes ridiculous. A recurring vignette in the film involves telephone conversations wherein “I’m glad to hear that you’re doing fine” is the only content. In this laboratory the torture the monkey endures, as well as the expense of time and equipment, all are wasted as the scientist stands at a window with a cell phone, glad to hear that someone is doing fine.
This scene is followed by a vision of 19th-century colonialists leading African natives to a perverse, theatrical death as the upper class watches and drinks tea.
Andersson’s point in showing the animal experimentation is important and clear. But since the question asked by this website is “Are there upsetting scenes depicting or implying animal abuse?” then the answer is Yes.
