The Natural History of the Chicken (2000)
Through interviews and reenactments, The Natural History of the Chicken investigates the role of the chicken in American life and tells several remarkable stories. A Maine farmer says she found a chicken frozen stiff, but was able to resuscitate it. Colorado natives tell a story of the chicken who lost its head-- and went on living. A Virginia farmer tells about (and demonstrates) the benefits of raising chickens for his own consumption. Perhaps most surprising is the case of the Florida woman: she bathes her pet bird, and takes it both swimming and shopping. Through these and other stories, this documentary illuminates the role that chickens play in (some of) our lives.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Reviews
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
I'll tell you why so serious
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
It's a great little film! I'm so happy to have worked on it!! When we shot this film, out in Sacramento, at the Cal Expo fair, it was sooooo hot! But you know seeing the results, well it was well worth the torture of the heat! :)I wish I could do it all over again!When we saw the offices at UC Davis, CA, now that was cool too!We got to see so much that you don't get to check out on any normal day!Have fun with this video everyone!!Gabe de Kelaita! :)
This was an amazing film. We watched it in Bio whilst coloring in diagrams of photosynthesis (my chloroplasts were pink!), and I was expecting something boring on eggs and whatnot.Instead, it introduced us to a "plucky farmer" who saved her frozen chicken with mouth-to-beak. There's a woman with a chicken named Cotton who swims with it, gives it daily baths, and gives it a diaper. There's moral discourse on killing chickens for food. There's a guy, my new hero, who can perfectly imitate various rooster noises. He's rather good at the mating dances, too.I am in love with this film.
I have seen negative reviews of this very good film elsewhere that were the result of the title "misleading" viewers. While I'll grant that the title is a little quirky (just like the characters), the actual content is so interesting, funny and entertaining that all should be easilly forgiven. This is a type of documentary, but not a purely scientific study aimed at agriculture majors. There is definitely a point of view, but it is not heavy or negative.You will never feel the same again about chickens or some of their amazing owners. It will not stop you from eating the birds, except, perhaps, those unfortunate ones raised in today's horrible warehouse "farms." Don't chicken out -- watch this film!
A pal with a sense of humour sent me a tape of this documentary, without a label to indicate the contents. Well, I popped the tape in the player and sat there, totally entranced by the sights and sounds! Brilliantly photographed and directed, full of good humour, captivating people and chooks, it literally kept me sitting on the edge of my seat until the credits appeared. Without a doubt, this is the best animal documentary I've seen in the past 20 years. Seemingly chooks are more difficult to train than any other member of the animal kingdom. The feathered actors in this documentary seemed far more intelligent than many human actors I've seen in the current crop of big name movies.Great fun for all the family.