Ground-breaking documentary The Animal Condition, which charts the journey of animal welfare in Australia from a fringe issue to a major community concern, is screening in Sydney Underground Film Festival on September 7.
The Sydney premiere follows sold-out screenings at Melbourne International Film Festival and CinefestOZ, and last week’s international premiere at Portland Film Festival.
“A film about exploration, not just of a hot-button issue but of what it means to be a true documentarian.” Jim Schembri 3AW
The Animal Condition is seen through the eyes of four friends in their 20s who take an investigative road trip around rural Australia unafraid to ask questions as they speak to all sides, from activists and welfare agencies to government and industry.
They document the many ways humans relate to the animals they eat. This objectivity and youthful approach gained them unprecedented access to the Australian egg, pork and cattle industries, famous for their privacy.
The team met and began their collaboration as students at NIDA. Together they are Code Talk Films: Michael Dahlstrom (Directing debut), Ande Cunningham (SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND, RAKER), Sarah-Jane McAllan (SPA ‘One To Watch’ 2014, RAKER, THE WONDERFUL) and Augusta Miller (HAPPY FEET, RISKING OUT KIDS). This is the first feature film for each of the filmmakers.
The documentary screens at a critical time as the war between animal industry and welfare groups rages over Barnaby Joyce’s proposed agricultural gag or ‘ag-gag’ laws. This film is bound to contribute to the fierce debate.
The Animal Condition chronicles three and a half years of recent Australian history, as animal welfare grew from fringe issue to national focus with protests in the streets, and features interviews with industry heavyweights (incl. Australian Pork Limited and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), federal politicians (incl. the then Minister for Agriculture Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig and the Hon. Bob Katter MP), animal welfare advocates (incl. Lyn White, Peter Singer), Indigenous Australians, immigrant factory workers, philosophers and scientists.
Along their journey, with each new encounter the four share their reactions, shifting viewpoints and personal reflections with the audience.
“The Animal Condition is a film about human and animal suffering; the dying farmer unable to keep his operating costs low enough to break even, the activist jailed for refusing to pay trespassing fines and the animals caught in the middle,” he said. “But most of all, the film is an exploration of the arguments we use to justify our treatment of others. How a farmer treats his dog is very different to the way he treats his pigs. The conditions dealt out to immigrant factory workers are very different to those enjoyed by their managers. It is not just a story about animal welfare, but a story about how we as humans treat each other,” said director Michael Dahlstrom.
Trailer and further information available at: WWW.THEANIMALCONDITION.COM!
EVENT DETAILS
The Animal Condition screens at 1pm on Sunday, 7th September at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville.
Tickets are $14/$12 and are available online at http://bit.ly/1och6mY