  Monday, February 4, 2008 LAST OF THE SPANISH MUSTANGS LAST OF THE SPANISH MUSTANGS tells the story of a man who connects with a
rare herd of wild mustangs and exposes those who kill them for foreign
dinner tables. Television reporter Len Johnson discovers that the myth
of wild horses, roaming the West free and untamed, does not match the
reality. These horses are dwindling descendants of Spanish mustangs,
treated with contempt by those charged with their care, hunted and
slaughtered for dining tables abroad. Through interviews, exclusive
Explore the fascinating
relationship
between
human society and the animal world! |
Monday, January 28, 2008
OFF THE CHAIN
2005, 55 minutes
Film discussion led by Cheryl McAuliffe, Georgia Director for the
Humane Society of the
United States
OFF THE CHAIN is an unprecedented look into the underground world of
dog fighting. Beginning with a history of the American Pit Bull
Terrier, the film explores the evolution of the breed. Classic film and television footage show the popularity of what was once considered
a noble and trustworthy family pet. Examine how this breed went from America's dog to public enemy number one. Travel to the back alleys
and dark corners of the inner city to expose the truth behind the breed's new status in pop culture; an urban symbol for violence, aggression and gang-life. In the first documentary of its kind, director Bobby J. Brown spent three years infiltrating the subculture of pit-bull fighting. Gaining the trust of well established dog men, they allowed him to film behind their dangerous veil of secrecy. The film captures the loving nature of the dogs and their
brutal misuse by those who are supposed to be their caretakers.
Monday, February 11, 2008
THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF FARM ANIMALS
2004, 52 minutes
Film discussion led by Rae Sikora, co-founder of the Institute for Humane Education.
THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF FARM ANIMALS is a delightful documentary about
the thinking and feeling side of animals that are often viewed only as
food.
Jeffrey Masson, author of When Elephants Weep and Dogs Never Lie
About Love, leads viewers through the personal journey he underwent
while writing his latest book, The Pig Who Sang to The Moon. This
journey into the sentient, emotional lives of farm animals takes
Masson to animal sanctuaries around the country where caregivers share stories of rescue and describe their daily lives with the animals. Masson delves into the rich ancestry of these curious and intelligent
animals and interviews experts in animal behavior who offer scientific
perspectives on these remarkable creatures.
This film contains no
graphic footage of cruelty to animals, making it the perfect
introduction to the rich emotional lives and complex feelings of pigs,
cows, sheep, goats, and chickens, shattering the lingering myth of the "dumb animal without feelings."
Monday, February 18, 2008
A FALL FROM FREEDOM
1998, 52 minutes
Film discussion led by Lori Marino, PhD, professor of Neuroscience and
Behavioral Biology
at Emory University.
A FALL FROM FREEDOM is the definitive film on the controversies of
capturing and keeping dolphins and whales in captivity. These fascinating marine mammals have captured the hearts and imagination of
people all around the world. Dolphins and killer whales have
entertained us with their amusing antics and playful demeanor, charmed
us with their built-in smile, and impressed us with their remarkable
intelligence. However, there is a darker side to life in the glass
tanks which house these entertainers. This film documents the tragic
history of the industry where the killer whale, beluga whale, and
dolphin are torn from their close-knit families in violent and often
illegal captures. We witness footage of trainer injuries caused by
killer whales driven to violence by the stress of captivity,
contrasted with the mesmerizing social interactions and herd
camaraderie exhibited by these animals in their natural ocean habitat.
Monday, February 25, 2008
VARMINTS
1998, 57 minutes
Film discussion led by Michael Ramirez, PhD, professor of Sociology at
Georgia College and State University.
VARMINTS looks at the West's best known rodent, the black-tailed
prairie dog. Once one of the most abundant mammal species of the Great
Plains, prairie dogs are in trouble. Accused by ranchers of stealing
forage from cattle, the prairie dog has been shot, gassed, and
systematically poisoned for over a century. Since extermination
efforts began, there has been a 98 percent reduction in the
black-tailed prairie dog population. Is the prairie dog the scourge of
agriculture and cattle ranchers, or a vanishing, vital element of a
healthy ecosystem in the West? The movie explores all sides of the
prairie dog controversy - poisoning, shooting, habitat loss, and the
valuable role the dogs play in a prairie ecosystem.
Winner, 22nd International Wildlife Film Festival:
-- 1st Place, Environmental Issues Category
-- Best Conservation Message
-- Special Jury Prize for Extraordinary Achievement
-- Merit Award for Investigative Journalism
"Provocative and disturbing...horrifying, fascinating and darkly hilarious."
-- The Tributary Magazine
"Viewers everywhere will ponder who, in the grand scheme of things, the true varmints are."
-- Westword
"Varmints is a thought-inspiring ride through the world of the prairie
dog. A finely polished testament to independent movie making. The
documentary melds a seamless mix of nature footage, personal
interviews, home video and even old black and white news reels into a
cohesive history of prairie dogs in this country. It fairly documents
both sides of a unique western argument that has been raging for the
better part of a century."
-- Montana Kaiman
"A powerful, engaging, and surprisingly humorous expose of the
strained relations between people and wildlife in the American West...
artfully unravels the controversy surrounding this unassuming little
rodent, leaving viewers to ponder questions about the ethics of
hunting for sport and our relentless efforts to manipulate the natural
world."
-- Camas Journal