Lomedin
Here we have yet another attempt to bring some light into the reality we force upon a world so embedded into suffering that the whole society and the system work for and thanks to it.Like other movies trying to accomplish this, it offers some memorable moments, like the talk starting about minute 64 into it, while he's driving. That's probably one of the most powerful speaks I've heard in this type of movies. I can completely relate to that feeling and it's somehow moving to hear someone saying it out loud. It reminded me to "Why do we love dogs, eat pigs and wear cows", when The Matrix comparison comes in.We have some prominent figures talking throughout the movie. It's nice to see Steven Best, with his non-compromise style; also Richard Dawkins, who I respect for his antitheist crusade (excuse the oxymoron), and who recently, in his own way, defended veganism (although, unfortunately, like other brilliant minds -Einstein, for example, who likewise praised the benefits of vegetarianism-, didn't change to a plant-based diet - sadly, another example that intelligence doesn't go hand in hand with common sense or doing what is right. Hopefully, Mr. Dawkins shall come to terms with reason and will end up doing what makes sense). Then, you have people from PETA (including Ingrid Newkirk and others), The Humane Society, Compassion for Animals and other organizations which politics I don't agree with 100% but that have undoubtedly helped many animals throughout the years directly or through education. Thankfully, most interview time is spent in people talking sense, instead of those paid to spew pro-suffering propaganda and such, although there's of course a share of a bit of nonsense, like the stupid reaction of that scientific woman who experiment on rats, when asked if she'd experiment on humans.Not much in the way of interviews but of refusals, we have some farm owners and such denying entry to premises and any cruelty involved in their businesses. It is so absurd to witness "people" who make a living out of the torturing and killing of sentient creatures ensuring that "the chickens do not suffer and are comfortable", while not allowing, of course, to film how comfortable they really are. Hey, I own a sweat shop, and all the children making your sneakers are treated great. How can anyone expect to have a bit of trust in the word of people who are in a business based on the exploitation of another creature, to start with? Do you ever wonder why farms, labs and such institutions don't allow visitors? And even pay governments to make it illegal to enter one and/or expose their going ons? Whether animal sanctuaries and such are always open to the public. Then, even the official, so-called, "surprise" visits by health inspectors to these places have to be by appointment; so the farm or other place of abuse have enough time to tidy things up enough to meet the ridiculous low industry standards. And, if it all fails, a few bucks under the table can fix anything. This is the absurd of the world we live in.Then, you have people like that fat Jew at the end, who goes a step further and will say and do anything to convince you that "his people" (there's more than one form of racism) got it worse than anybody else, be it human or non-human. I always wondered how it is possible for people from ethnic groups who were victims of particularly cruel episodes of suffering throughout history can live with themselves while supporting the suffering and death of other sentient beings. Like his fat Nazi counterpart interviewed earlier in the movie, this obese jew seems to care little about non-human animals when there's something to say about humans, no matter how incongruent his babbling might be. How ironic and horrendous that a Nazi and a Jew could come to terms when it is about speciesism.Ultimately, it's not really a matter of logical reasoning, so it's useless to throw moral truths and reason at people; because, as I said at the beginning, it is suffering the foundation of society, and the money and power all that death brings. You don't convince someone to stop all this non-sense by appealing to his/her moral values or logical thinking when there's no morality or logic involved in the first place. Of course, there're people who will listen to reason and stop creating unspeakable suffering for the sake of their palate or their fashion. But even then, the industries won't care, as long as there's some money to gain. And even if it isn't (see Canada's "proud" slaughter of baby seals, for example). Because, after all, humans are moved by other emotions apart from empathy or compassion; pride being among the top ones. And, of course, the greatest god of all times: selfishness. why stop eating animals when humans have such compelling reasons as "meat is so tasty" or "I can't go without my weekly steak". It is all, at the end, just repeating what others say, and muttering any and all excuses to try to sound reasonable, even if it all comes out sounding like a baby blabbering nonsense, in an attempt to get away with doing whatever you want. So much for the oh-so-evolved-and-civilized homo sapiens.Sometimes I think about what would happen if all the billions of speciescists were in the position of the animals they destroy. That quote from a cult movie comes to mind: "Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave." - I wonder.
Billy Howard
Unlike any other film in the genre, Mark sets out as a skeptic to disprove the silly people holding signs on the corner, but his world is turned upside down when he discovers, time-and-time-again, the upsetting, heartbreaking, sickening and undeniable truth about universal animal suffering and the environmental consequences—including human suffering—from what has come to be known as factory farming. The audience isn't being lectured to as in many other animal rights films, on the contrary, we go with him on his journey of discovery and the scales fall from all of our eyes.Enthusiastically recommended for all.
