Violence to Animals in Film: Norwegian

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 Norwegian. Show all posts

Sick of Myself

Sick of Myself (Syk pike). Kristoffer Borgli, 2022.

😿

Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray, released 2023. Norwegian with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 97 minutes.

Summary: A dog is harassed in one scene, timing uncertain.

Lake of the Dead

Lake of the Dead (De dødes tjern). Kåre Bergstrøm, 1958.

😿

Edition screened: Included in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror, released 2021. Norwegian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 77 minutes.

Summary: A dog is found dead.

Details: A spaniel is found dead and we are told that he has been shot in the head, 22:20-22:24. All we see is a dog’s still body beside a pond, with no visible indication of injury.

The Lake of the Dead BD in the Severin box set also includes Tilbury (1987 Viðar Víkingsson) and A White Spot in the Back of the Head (1979 Viðar Víkingsson).

Next Door (Sletaune)

Next Door (Naboer). Pål Sletaune, 2005.

😸

Edition screened: TLA DVD, released 2006. Norwegian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 75 minutes.

Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film

Kitchen Stories

Kitchen Stories (Salmer fra kjøkkenet). Bent Hamer, 2003.

😸

Edition screened: IFC DVD, released 2004. Norwegian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.

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

O’Horten

O’Horten. Bent Hamer, 2007.

😸

Edition screened: Sony DVD, released 2009. Norwegian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

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

Laila

Laila. George Schnéevoigt, 1929.

😸

Edition screened: Flicker Alley DVD, released 2011. Silent with Norwegian intertitles and English subtitles. Runtime approximately 145 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence toward animals.

An exceptionally enjoyable, well acted, and beautifully created film.

@ BL

Insomnia (Skjoldbjærg)

Insomnia. Erik Skjoldbjærg, 1997.

😿😿

Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #47, released 2014. Norwegian & Swedish languages with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 97 minutes.

Summary: Murder of a dog.

Details: Stellan Skarsgård lures a German Shepherd with food then shoots her at close range (34:04). We hear the dog yelp but do not see the death. Skarsgård then makes an incision in the dog’s skin, extracts the bullet, and puts the dog’s body in a dumpster. This all is over by 34:40.

@ BL

Violence to Animals in Film