Eating Animals

If you consume meat, please watch. It's more than pro-vegetarian, it shows the negative effects mass animal farming has on the land and the animals that are consumed. Don't google, "pink lagoon" especially if you live in NC... Informative without using sensationalism.

'EATING ANIMALS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A feature-length documentary adapted from the critically acclaimed 2009 novel, of the same name (which was also a New York Times best-seller), by Jonathan Safran Foer. The film examines what has happened to our food industry in the last 40-years, as we've transitioned from traditional farming to huge industrial farms. The book was written as an effort for Foer to decide whether his newborn child should eat meat or not. The film was written and directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn, and it's narrated and produced by Oscar winning actress (and filmmaker) Natalie Portman. The documentary had it's world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival last September, where it received a standing ovation. I saw it at a film festival in Portland, followed by a Q&A with the director there. I definitely had severely mixed feelings about the film.

The movie examines what has happened to our food industry over the last forty years, as it's transitioned from traditional farming to massive factory farms. The filmmakers interview multiple farmers, and question them on how this change has affected them (many have been left in financial ruins). It also shows us (through undercover footage primarily) the horrific treatment of animals as a result. Portman also beautifully narrates the film, throughout, as well.

I saw the movie with a group of vegan 'animal rights' activist friends, and they were pretty upset by the overall message of the film. They feel that it promotes the myth of 'humanely' raised meat and dairy, and it encourages a transition back to more traditional farming, rather than veganism. I didn't feel that was the overall message (from my biased point of view) when I first watched it, but I can definitely see why they feel that way. I still saw it as a movie which primarily promotes veganism. There's a lot of important educational information in it, including lots of animal abuse footage, and it definitely (without a doubt) paints factory farming in a very negative and horrific light. The film has a lot of flaws still though (obviously), and it's certainly far from a great movie.

This documentary takes you on a journey that makes you question your eating choices. What type meat you want to eat having looked at the conditions of the current animal farming, breeding and meat processing locations. It makes you question the need of meat in your own life and should one make an informed choice on where to get it from , reduce consumption or even move to plant based alternatives. Having watched it, I am questioning the source of my meat and if I have to make a better choice for my own life atleast.

I will suggest: just watch it without assumptions in your mind and see where it takes you. And ask questions to yourself along the way.

Movie gives good explanation about future of farming. I like the farmers perspective and solutions they provided. As I see they predicted ongoing pandemic so I guess and I hope they are also right about reducing meat producing in the future. Everyone should watch it even of ot is or not vegetarian. It's eye opener for non vegetarians and it gives good perspective to vegetarians about farmers, they problems and possible solutions. It's also covering the true facts about why everything in the way we eat now is wrong. It's good for educational point so you can spread them to the world and try to make impact on other people to reduse meat consumption too.

The truth always prevails! If this doesnt make you consider becoming at least vegetarian, then, i dont know whats wrong with you. Get your morals straight.