NOTES FROM THE FILMMAKERS
Synopsis
Earthlings is an award-winning documentary film about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment, and medical research. Considered the most persuasive documentary ever made, Earthlings is nicknamed “the Vegan maker” for its sensitive footage shot at animal shelters, pet stores, puppy mills, factory farms, slaughterhouses, the leather and fur trades, sporting events, circuses, and research labs.
The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix and features music by platinum-selling recording artist Moby. Initially ignored by distributors, today, and is considered the definitive animal rights film by organizations around the world. “Of all the films I have ever made, this is the one that gets people talking the most,” said Phoenix. “For every one person who sees this movie, they will tell three.”
In 1999, writer/producer/director Shaun Monson began work on a series of PSAs about spaying and neutering pets. The footage he shot at animal shelters around Los Angeles affected him so profoundly that the project soon evolved into Earthlings. The film would take another six years to complete because of the difficulty in obtaining footage within these profitable industries. Though the film was initially ignored by distributors, who told Monson that the film would “never see the light of day and should be swept under the rug,” today this movie is considered the definitive animal rights film by organizations around the world.
About the Filmmakers
Earthlings was produced by Nation Earth, directed by Shaun Monson, and narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. Find out more about the film at nationearth.com.
Critic Reviews
“I feel as if some part of me died while I watched Earthlings last night. I’m talking about part of me that, consciously or unconsciously, has chosen to ignore what goes on in the food industry and others like it that treat living beings as a product. . .And when that part of me died, another part awoke. A part that wants to work hard to create change in the face of overwhelming, appalling misuse of the power we have over the other thinking, feeling beings with whom we share the planet.” – Matt Frazier, No Meat Athlete. The Most Disturbing Film I’ve Ever Seen – And Why You Should Watch It. 28 Jan 2020
Watch Now
Warning: Extreme Graphic Content. Earthlings depict violence towards animals not only in the film but in the movie trailer as well, which may be disturbing to some viewers. Please proceed with caution and awareness.
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