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.

Yellow

Yellow. Ryan Haysom, 2012.
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Edition screened: Included on Arrow’s Blood and Black Lace Blu-ray, released 2015. English language. Runtime approximately 26 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.



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Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind

Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind. Stan Brakhage, 1997.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Silent. Runtime 16 minutes, 58 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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Young Girls Do

Young Girls Do. Bob Vossé, 1984.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome DVD #206, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.

Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film. 2/5❤


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Yumeji

Yumeji. Seijun Suzuki, 1991.
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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Taishō Roman Trilogy, released 2017. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 128 minutes.

Summary: Display of a cow’s head.

Details:
1) A black cow’s head is lying on the ground, 24:32-24:34.
2) The same cow’s head is shown as a centerpiece in a display of food three times: 1:42:34-50; 1:47:35-46; and 2:01:30-36.

This prop is not bloody or intentionally gruesome. 




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Yumurta

Yumurta (Egg). Semih Kaplanoğlu, 2007.
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Edition screened: Included in Artificial Eye box set The Yusuf Trilogy, released 2011. Turkish language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 97 minutes.

Summary: Ram slaughter.

Details: A ram is ceremonially slaughtered, barely below screen, 1:16:11-1:16:36, followed by a stagnant shot of women ceremonially butchering the body, 1:17:13-1:17:43.

While these scenes are not especially graphic, the slaughter is a disappointing surprise. Earlier in the film we hear that a ram sacrifice has been promised, but then we are relieved when that event seems to be derailed. It is a disappointing turn-around then to see a beautiful ram with his feet bound lifted from the back of a car at a ceremonial destination.









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The Yusuf Trilogy

The Yusuf Trilogy. Semih Kaplanoğlu, 2007-2010.
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Edition screened: Artificial Eye DVD box set, released 2011. Turkish language with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime approximately 299 minutes.

Summary: Each of these otherwise clean films has some minor, unfortunate, and unnecessary action with the bodies of dead animals.

The Artificial Eye set includes all three films of The Yusuf Trilogy. Click on individual titles for details.

Yumurta (2007)
Süt (2008)
Bal (2010)

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Zatoichi on the Road

Zatoichi on the Road (Zatōichi kenka-tabi). Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1963.
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Edition screened: In Criterion Blu-ray box set #679 Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman, released 2013. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 87 minutes.
Summary: No depictions of violence toward animals.


The fifth film in the Zatoichi series.
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Zatoichi the Fugitive

Zatoichi the Fugitive (Zatōichi kyōjō-tabi). Tokuzo Tanaka, 1963.
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Edition screened: In Criterion Blu-ray box set #679 Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman, released 2013. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 86 minutes.

 Summary: No depictions of violence toward animals.
The fourth film in the Zatoichi series.

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Zéro de conduite

Zéro de conduite (Zero for Conduct / Zéro de conduite: Jeunes diables au collège). Jean Vigo, 1933.
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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #578, The Complete Jean Vigo, released 2011. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 45 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.
















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Zigeunerweisen

Zigeunerweisen. Seijun Suzuki, 1980.
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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Taishō Roman Trilogy, released 2017. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 144 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.













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Zombie Strippers

Zombie Strippers. Jay Lee, 2008.
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Edition screened: Sony Blu-ray, released 2008. English language. Runtime approximately 94 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.
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Zoology

Zoology (Zoologiya). Ivan I. Tverdovskiy 2016.
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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2017. Russian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 91 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Zoology is rife with animals and references to them. Frequently there is a tense feeling that some animal is about to be injured, but it doesn’t happen. A drawer full of mice are dumped out on the floor, and a family grieves over the death of a house cat we never see. That’s as bad as it gets.
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“. . .” Reel Five

“. . .” Reel Five (Ellipses Reel Five). Stan Brakhage, 1998.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Scored, no dialogue track. Runtime 14 minutes, 6 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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1 (The Beatles 1)

1 (The Beatles 1). Various directors, 1963-1995.
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Edition screened: Universal Blu-ray, released 2015. English language. Runtime approximately 110 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.
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3 Documentaries by Alex de Renzy

3 Documentaries by Alex de Renzy. Alex de Renzy, 1970-1971.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome DVD #144, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 292 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Vinegar Syndrome DVD compiles three early films by de Renzy. Click on individual titles for details.

Weed (1971)

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3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman

3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman. Roberto Rossellini, 1950-1954.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray set #672, released 2013. English and Italian language with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime of feature films approximately 309 minutes.

Summary: Stromboli includes graphic images of large tuna being mutilated while still alive. The other two films contain no animal violence.


The Criterion set includes the Rossellini features
Stromboli (1950)
Europe ’51 (1952)

and supplemental material including

Surprised by Death (James Quadt, 2013)
Ingrid Bergman Remembered (Gene Feldman, 1995)
My Dad Is 100 Years Old (Guy Maddin, 2005)

Rossellini Under the Volcano (Walter Hart, 1988)

The Chicken (Roberto Rossellini, 1952)

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5 Years • 5 Films Vol. 1: Golden Age Erotica

5 Years • 5 Films Vol. 1: Golden Age Erotica. Various directors, 1978-1985.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray set #201, released 2018. English language. Cumulative runtime approximately 415 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

This compilation offers five previous DVD releases upgraded to Blu-ray. See individual titles for details.

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5 Years • 5 Films Vol. 2: Horror and Exploitation

5 Years • 5 Films Vol. 2: Horror and Exploitation. Various directors, 1962-1984.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray set #202, released 2018. English language. Cumulative runtime approximately 428 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

This compilation offers five previous DVD releases upgraded to Blu-ray. See individual titles for details.

The Hang Up (1970)
The Muthers (1976)
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16 Days of Glory

16 Days of Glory. Bud Greenspan, 1986.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion’s 100 Years of Olympic Films 1912-2012 Blu-ray box set #900, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 284 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A documentary about the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, featuring star athletes including Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, Joan Benoit, and Greg Louganis.




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23rd Psalm Branch

23rd Psalm Branch. Stan Brakhage, 1967.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Silent. Runtime 63 minutes, 47 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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24 Films

24 Films. Jeff Keen, 1972-75.
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Edition screened: Included in BFI Gazwrx: The Films of Jeff Keen Blu-ray/DVD set, released 2009. Scored and/or with sound effects track; no dialogue track. Runtime approximately 18 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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47 Ronin

47 Ronin. Carl Rinsch, 2013.
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Edition screened: Universal Blu-ray, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 119 minutes.

Summary: Animals killed during fantasy combat.

Details:
1) Numerous horses are killed during the rampage of a huge fantasy beast, 6:28-7:17.
2) A dragon (an evil dragon) is slain, 1:36:50-1:37:25.

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88

88. April Mullen, 2015.
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Edition screened: Millennium Blu-ray, released 2015. English language. Runtime approximately 88 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.
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100 Years of Olympic Films 1912-2012

100 Years of Olympic Films 1912-2012. Various directors, 1912-2012.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray box set #900, released 2007. Various languages with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime approximately 6,253 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The massive Criterion box set includes:

Stockholm 1912
  • The Games of the V Olympiad Stockholm, 1912 (dir. Adrian Wood) 
Chamonix 1924
Paris 1924
St. Moritz 1928
  • The White Stadium (dirs. Arnold Fanck, Othmar Gurtner) 
Amsterdam 1928
  • The IX Olympiad in Amsterdam (dir. unknown)
  • The Olympic Games, Amsterdam 1928 (dir. Wilhelm Prager) 
Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936
  • Youth of the World (dir. Carl Junghans) 
Berlin 1936
  • Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations (dir. Leni Riefenstahl)
  • Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty (dir. Leni Riefenstahl) 
St. Moritz 1948
  • Fight Without Hate (dir. André Michel) 
London 1948
  • XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport (dir. Castleton Knight) 
Oslo 1952
  • The VI Olympic Winter Games, Oslo 1952 (dir. Tancred Ibsen) 
Helsinki 1952
  • Where the World Meets (dir. Hannu Leminen)
  • Gold and Glory (dir. Hannu Leminen)
  • Memories of the Olympic Summer of 1952 (dir. unknown) 
Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956
Melbourne/Stockholm 1956
  • Olympic Games, 1956 (dir. Peter Whitchurch)
  • The Melbourne Rendez-vous (dir. René Lucot)
  • Alain Mimoun (dir. Louis Gueguen)
  • The Horse in Focus (dir. unknown) 
Squaw Valley 1960
  • People, Hopes, Medals (dir. Heribert Meisel) 
Rome 1960
  • The Grand Olympics (dir. Romolo Marcellini) 
Innsbruck 1964
  • IX Olympic Winter Games, Innsbruck 1964 (dir. Theo Hormann) 
Tokyo 1964
  • Tokyo Olympiad (dir. Kon Ichikawa)
  • Sensation of the Century (prod. Taguchi Suketaro)
Grenoble 1968
Mexico City 1968
  • The Olympics in Mexico (dir. Alberto Isaac) 
Sapporo 1972
  • Sapporo Winter Olympics (dir. Masahiro Shinoda) 
Munich 1972
  • Visions of Eight (dirs. Milo Forman, Kon Ichikawa, Claude Lelouch, Yuri Ozerov, Arthur Penn, Michael Pfleghar, John Schlesinger, Mai Zetterling) 
Innsbruck 1976
  • White Rock (dir. Tony Maylam) 
Montreal 1976
  • Games of the XXI Olympiad (dirs. Jean-Claude Labrecque, Jean Beaudin, Marcel Carrière, Georges Dufaux) 
Lake Placid 1980
  • Olympic Spirit (dirs. Drummond Challis, Tony Maylam) 
Moscow 1980
  • O Sport, You Are Peace! (dir. Yuri Ozerov) 
Sarajevo 1984
  • A Turning Point (dir. Kim Takal) 
Los Angeles 1984
Calgary 1988
  • Calgary ’88: 16 Days of Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Seoul 1988
  • Seoul 1988 (dir. Lee Kwang-soo)
  • Hand in Hand (dir. Im Kwon-taek)
  • Beyond All Barriers (dir. Lee Ji-won) 
Albertville 1992
  • One Light, One World (dirs. Joe Jay Jalbert, R. Douglas Copsey) 
Barcelona 1992
  • Marathon (dir. Carlos Saura) 
Lillehammer 1994
  • Lillehammer ’94: 16 Days of Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Atlanta 1996
  • Atlanta’s Olympic Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Nagano 1998
  • Nagano ’98 Olympics: Stories of Honor and Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan)
  • Olympic Glory (dir. Kieth Merrill) 
Sydney 2000
  • Sydney 2000: Stories of Olympic Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Salt Lake City 2002
  • Salt Lake City 2002: Bud Greenspan's Stories of Olympic Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Athens 2004
  • Bud Greenspan's Athens 2004: Stories of Olympic Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Turin 2006
  • Bud Greenspan's Torino 2006: Stories of Olympic Glory (dir. Bud Greenspan) 
Beijing 2008
  • The Everlasting Flame (dir. Gu Jun) 
Vancouver 2010
  • Bud Greenspan Presents Vancouver 2010: Stories of Olympic Glory (prods. Bud Greenspan)
London 2012
  • First (dir. Caroline Rowland)




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