FARM ANIMALS - THE PIG, THE COW & THE SHEEP

The trilogy gives you an unprecedented look into the secret world of pigs, cows and sheep. We are delving into a farm animal universe, the camera is the observer, and prejudges on these animals are put aside to see them as the really are, or rather to let

You will see pigs, cows and sheep as individuals with character traits such as domination or submission, with sentiments of fretfulness or stress and in the end always a positive acceptance of being part of a group, a herd, a flock. These animals have a surprisingly developed sympathy and “belonging to” sentiment.

The Pig
In The Pig, first part of the trilogy, a spotted sow is our main character. Highlights in The Pig is the dominant nature of the main character; the life-saving ability of mud bathing; her giving birth to a bunch of piglets; her piglets becoming “annoying kids”; the sad destiny for an adventurous piglet that breaks out of the pen; the piglets leaving the free open-air life to be confronted with the tough stable life; that leads to the farm’s local pig hospital for the first born piglet; the squealing sows that become bore-mad; and finally giving birth in the fields under the harsh conditions of a cold winter and snow covered landscape.

The Cow
A newborn bull-calf, named Baldur, is the main character in the second part of the trilogy. Highlights in The Cow: The birth of the calf – will the farmer let it live? Many bull-calves are killed right after birth because of low production value. Separation of calf and mother cow – the mother crying for her newborn. Birth of another bull-calf, rejected by its mother. The difference in character between the two calves – Baldur is lively and with temperament, the other one submissive. Their joy when meeting with other calves. Their happy summer with a suckle-ant, a cow that has served her time – she is now taking care of the calves, which is her last job before she is sent to the slaughterhouse.

The Sheep
The setting of The Sheep, the third and last film in the trilogy, is the very beautiful French Alps. The film is shot inside the sheep farm and in the Alps. Highlights: The birth of a small lamb and here – no separation of the newborn from her mother. The difficult birth of a second lamb by another sheep – the mother sheep is not able to deliver the lamb by herself. When born with the help from the farmer, the mother refuses to recognise her newborn. The orphan becomes a feeding bottle lamb.

Release year:

November 2006

Director:

Adam Schmedes

Co production:

HRT, TVP, NRK, RUV, TRBF, VRT, Czech TV, ETV, SVT & WDR

Running length:

3 x 52 minutes

Production company:

Loke Film for TV2 Danmark

 

Categories:

• Wildlife, Science & Environment