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.

Showing posts with label ♀. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ♀. Show all posts

Scales

Scales (Sayyedat al-Bahr). Shahad Ameen, 2020.

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Edition screened: Included in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror Volume 2, released 2024. Arabic language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.


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


Scales is a beautiful and entrancing film. The drama is persistent but not taxing, every performance calmly likable, and the cinematography inventive without disturbing the serenity of the viewing experience. Highly recommended.



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Clouds of Sils Maria

Clouds of Sils Maria. Olivier Assayas, 2014.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #822, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 124 minutes.


No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals. 

 

The Criterion release also includes Arnold Fanck’s beautiful 1924 Cloud Phenomena of Maloja. 


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The Reluctant Icon: A Tribute to Laura Gemser

The Reluctant Icon: A Tribute to Laura Gemser. Kier-La Janisse, 2023.

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Edition screened: Included with Black Emanuelle (disc 1) in Severin Blu-ray box set The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle, released 2023. English language. Runtime approximately 19 minutes.


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


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A Tribute to Karin Schubert: The 'Nackedei' Actress

A Tribute to Karin Schubert: The 'Nackedei' Actress. Kier-La Janisse, 2023.

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Edition screened: Included with Emanuelle Around the World in Severin Blu-ray box set The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle, released 2023. English language. Runtime approximately 19 minutes.


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


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A Taste of Honey

A Taste of Honey. Tony Richardson, 1961.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #829, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.


Summary: A dead sparrow is spotted on a sidewalk near the end of the film; no gratuitous content.


The Criterion BD also includes Richardson’s 1955 nightclub short Momma Don’t Allow. 


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Portrait of Jason

Portrait of Jason. Shirley Clarke, 1967.

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Edition screened: Milestone Blu-ray, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 107 minutes.


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


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Kamikaze Hearts

Kamikaze Hearts. Juliet Bashore, 1986.

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Edition screened: Kino Blu-ray, released 2022. English language. Runtime approximately 87 minutes.


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


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Carol

Carol. Todd Haynes, 2016.

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Edition screened: Lionsgate Blu-ray, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 118 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


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Anchoress

Anchoress. Chris Newby, 1993.

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Edition screened: Included with A Field in England (Disc 11) in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror, released 2021. English language. Runtime approximately 108 minutes.


Summary: A woman cleans a chicken carcass during dialogue 1:14:07 - 1:14:19, and again 1:15:12 - 1:15:30. The camera’s focus is not on this action but we do see her reach inside the chicken and remove entrails.


Despite that, Anchoress is a visually rewarding and philosophically affirming viewing experience, reminiscent of November and Marketa Lazarová. 


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Jacquot de Nantes

Jacquot de Nantes. Agnès Varda, 1991.

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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set The Complete Films of Agnès Varda (disc 10) released 2020. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 118 minutes.


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


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Agnès V. by Jane B.

Agnès V. by Jane B. Walter Hart, 2020.

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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set The Complete Films of Agnès Varda (disc 9) released 2020. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 16 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Shame (Jodrell)

Shame. Steve Jodrell, 1988.

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Edition screened: Umbrella Blu-ray, released 2023. English language. Runtime approximately 94 minutes.


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


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Baxter, Vera Baxter

Baxter, Vera Baxter. Marguerite Duras, 1977.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #1172 Two Films by Marguerite Duras, released 2021. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


Films by Duras often include something structural that is fresh and interesting to me. In Baxter, Vera Baxter, Duras allows a simple up-tempo musical repeat to be heard through the entire film; just a two-beat rhythmic strumming between two chords with percussion and improvised meandering flute. This diegetic music is acknowledged by the characters as local revelers. The volume rises and falls to match the action and sometimes fades away almost completely.


The Criterion BD also includes Duras’ India Song (1975).


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Il demonio

Il demonio. Brunello Rondi, 1963.

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Edition screened: Included in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror, released 2021. Italian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.


Summary: Dead cat used as a prop.


Details: Purif produces a stiff dead cat while cursing a newlywed couple, then throws the cat at men guarding the house, 30:05-30:47.


A superbly crafted horror drama and clear source material for The Exorcist.


The Il demonio BD in the Severin box set also includes Dark Waters (1993, Mariano Baino).


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India Song

India Song. Marguerite Duras, 1975.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #1172 Two Films by Marguerite Duras, released 2021. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 120 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


The Criterion BD also includes Duras’ Baxter, Vera Baxter (1977).


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A Question of Silence

A Question of Silence (De stilte rond Christine M.). Marleen Gorris, 1982.

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Edition screened: Cult Epics Blu-ray, released 2023. Dutch language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 92 minutes.


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


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Inland Empire: A Woman in Trouble

Inland Empire: A Woman in Trouble. David Lynch, 2006.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #1175, released 2023. English language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 180 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


Inland Empire lovingly salves the itch caused by Mulholland Drive, a little too much fun, a little too easily accessible. In addition to some commentaries and similar, the Criterion 2-BD release also includes:


More Things That Happened (2006, Lynch)

Ballerina (2007, Lynch)

LYNCH(One) (2007, Jason S.)

LYNCH2 (2007, Jason S.)


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More Things That Happened

More Things That Happened. David Lynch, 2006.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #1175 Inland Empire, released 2023. English language; no subtitle option. Runtime approximately 75 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


More Things That Happened is composed of several long scenes shot during the filming of Inland Empire but not used in that film. “Deleted scenes” seems an inappropriate tag due in part to Lynch’s style of film composition, but also to the cohesiveness of the content and performances. More Things is a wonderful viewing experience, entirely a companion piece to Inland Empire rather than scraps and edits.


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Women Talking

Women Talking. Sarah Polley, 2022.

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Edition screened: Universal Blu-ray, released 2023. English language. Runtime approximately 104 minutes.


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


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Colette

Colette. Yannick Bellon, 1950.

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Edition screened: Included on Icarus DVD Remembrance of Things to Come, released 2008. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 26 minutes.


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


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