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starring: Sigourney Weaverdirected by: Carol L. Fleisher
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780784014349
Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 0784014345
Label: Family Home Ent
Manufacturer: Family Home Ent
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Family Home Ent
Release Date: April 11, 2000
Running Time: 100 minutes
Sales Rank: 7980
Studio: Family Home Ent
Theatrical Release Date: 1999
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Are animals closer to humans on an emotional level than generally has been believed? The many scientists, researchers, wildlife photographers, and other animal experts interviewed in this Discovery Channel video answer with a resounding yes. They make their case in this 93-minute documentary, narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, with stories of despondent dogs, grieving chimps, and lab rats who laugh when tickled. The first half focuses on happy bonds between mother and child, siblings, and animals and humans. The second half delves into the darker subjects of sadness and grief, offering astounding assertions such as elephants secrete a tearlike substance when upset and search dogs finding only corpses in the Oklahoma City bombing case needed treatment for depression. While the focus is on mammals, mollusks get some air time in the form of octopuses that appear to change color according to their situation. Backing up observations with brain imaging and genetic testing, the scientists--and this film--make a compelling view for any animal lover. --Kimberly Heinrichs
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Incredible Documentary
This documentary is incredible. As a young, athletic guy, it's a testament to this film's integrity that I actually cried.. numerous times. I've seen it twice; one time on a two-part television series and once after renting it from the library. I cried not once but both times. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster. I'll be smiling and laughing at one moment, crying at the next, and intrigued just minutes later. What a wonderful movie.. that's why I'm now buying it.
Rating: - Beautiful film, even if the message is obvious.
Despite the fact that I think it's ridiculous to structure a film around the question of whether non-human beings experience emotions (only a species as arrogant and detached from nature as ours could even conceive of such a question), this film was extremely worthwhile. There were some interesting points, for instance: human anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications probably work on dogs because their brains are reasonably similar to ours; and fear is probably "the" universal emotion because ... Read More
Rating: - Heartwarming & Wonderful
I first saw this documentary on the Discovery Channel. I bought it thinking it would be good to have, being as though I'm preparing for veterinary school. As a student of veterinary science, I am proud to say this is one of the greatest pieces in my collection. The subject of animal behavior has always fascinated me, and this documentary was a delicious helping for my always eager appetite. If you love animals, you will love this. Once you watch it, you will see how closely related humans and ... Read More
Rating: - the bond between all creatures
This is a fascinating, and often quite moving documentary showing the emotional kinship between man and his fellow mammals. The film footage is remarkable, starting with the basic emotions that pertain to survival, "fear, aggression, and the urge to procreate", and then moves on to the more subtle feelings of joy, compassion, grief, loyalty, and even depression.
The caring of one another in animal societies is extraordinary, and shows the bonds of friendship between species of primates, meerkats, ... Read More
Rating: - LANDMARK
This film is a landmark in blending science and advocacy. It seeks to assert that animals lead complex and sophisticated emotional lives, not unlike our own. But it manages to walk the fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. It avoids going too far into the subjective. It doesn't try to emotionally blackmail the viewer with mere cute/stagey displays of animal interaction. Instead it relies heavily on scientific observation in both natural and controlled environments. But by the sheer genious of ... Read More
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