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 Persian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persian. Show all posts

The Wind Will Carry Us

The Wind Will Carry Us (Bad ma ra khahad bord.) Abbas Kiarostami, 1999.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #1261, released 2025. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 118 minutes.


Summary: A turtle is marooned on his back but gets righted. An uncredited cameo by one of Iran’s leading dung beetle actors is a delightful scene in the film.


A rewarding and enjoyable experience, like every Kiarostami film I have seen.


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And Life Goes On

And Life Goes On (Zendegi Va Digar Hich). Abbas Kiarostami, 1992.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray#991, included in the box set The Koker Trilogy, released 2019. Persian language. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.


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



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Homework

Homework (Mashgh-e Shab). Abbas Kiarostami, 1989.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray#990 Where Is the Friend’s House?, included in the box set The Koker Trilogy, released 2019. Persian language. Runtime approximately 88 minutes.


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


A series of interviews with Iranian children expose the stress and physical anguish of completing daily homework assignments in households that expect physical work from children after school. While released in 1989, the interviews must have been shot around 1985 based on political details discussed.


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The Koker Trilogy

The Koker Trilogy. Abbas Kiarostami, 1987-1994.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray box set, released 2019. Persian language with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime of feature films approximately 281 minutes.


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


In addition to the three very good feature films, the Criterion set includes Kiarostami’s 1989 documentary Homework along with several interview and other supplemental material. 



Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987)

And Life Goes On (1992)

Through the Olive Trees (1994)



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Through the Olive Trees

Through the Olive Trees (Zire darakhatan zeyton). Abbas Kiarostami, 1994.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray#992, included in the box set The Koker Trilogy, released 2019. Persian language. Runtime approximately 103 minutes.


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


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Where Is the Friend’s House?

Where Is the Friend’s House? (Khane-ye doust kodjast?). Abbas Kiarostami, 1987.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray#990, included in the box set The Koker Trilogy, released 2019. Persian language. Runtime approximately 83 minutes.


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


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Gabbeh

Gabbeh. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1996.
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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Poetic Trilogy, released 2018. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 73 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to any of the nice goats who appear throughout this film.





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The Gardener

The Gardener (Bagheban). Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 2012.
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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Poetic Trilogy, released 2018. English and Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 86 minutes..


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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The Poetic Trilogy

The Poetic Trilogy. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1996-2012.
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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray set, released 2018. Persian language with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime of feature films approximately 235 minutes.

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

The Arrow release includes an interview with Mohsen Makhalbaf, other supplemental material, and the three feature films:

Gabbeh (1996)
The Silence (1998)

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The Silence

The Silence (Sokout). Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1998.
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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Poetic Trilogy, released 2018. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to any of the animals who appear throughout this film.








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A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Ana Lily Amirpour, 2014.
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Edition screened: Kino Lorber Blu-ray, released 2015. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 101 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Bonus Points! …
A nice house cat is introduced at he beginning of the film, portending his inevitable murder. He not only lives happily until the end of the film, but even has a decent role although he looks at the camera too much.

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The Traveler

The Traveler (Mossafer). Abbas Kiarostami, 1974.
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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #519 Close-Up, released 2010. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 83 minutes.

Summary: A lovely film that recalls Truffaut, with no depictions of violence toward animals.


















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Close-Up

Close-Up (Nema-ye Nazdik). Abbas Kiarostami, 1990.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #519, released 2010. Persian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 98 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence toward animals.

The Criterion Blu-ray also contains Kiarostami’s first feature The Traveler  (1974) and some wonderful special features, all free of animal violence.
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