Earthlings is a 2005 documentary film that explores humanity's use and abuse of animals for food, clothing, entertainment, pets, and scientific research. It was directed by Shaun Monson and narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. The film uses hidden camera footage from industries around the world to show the cruel reality of how animals are treated. It aims to make viewers recognize that all inhabitants of Earth, regardless of species, should live as natural beings and not exploit the weaker for profit or interests. While some found the film too graphic, it won several awards for documenting animal abuse and motivated some viewers to become vegetarian or vegan after watching.

1. DOCUMENTARY FILM
“EARTHLINGS”
2005
INDIVIDUAL TALK BY:
RENATA RUČ IN S KY T Ė
IV B2 3 A (B) GROUP

2. “EARTHLINGS”
 Directed by:
Shaun Monson
 Produced by:
Brett Harrelson
Babak Cyrus Razi
Nicole Visram
Maggie Q
Persia White
 Narrated by:
Joaquin Phoenix

3. “EARTHLINGS”
 “Earthlings” is a documentary film about humanity’s
use of animals as pets, food, clothing,
entertainment, scientific research, which was
fully completed in 2005;
 Firstly it may seem as an ordinary documentary film
about animal abuse and exploitation, but actually
this film is literally made from video footage,
obtained from all around the world using hidden
cameras, and comments of the producers; all of the
video materials show the cruel truth about the
everyday activities of some of the largest industries
in the world, all of which rely to animals.

4. IDEA OF THE FILM
 The film started off as footage that writer, director
and producer Shaun Monson had shot at animal
shelters around Los Angeles in 1999. Monson
originally shot the footage for PSAs on spaying and
neutering pets but what he saw moved him so much
that he turned it into a documentary. The film would
take another six years to complete because of the
difficulty of obtaining footage within these
industries.

5. THE PLOT
 After collecting all video materials for the film, the
plot was suggested to divide into 5 main groups by
content…:
1. Pets;
2. Food;
3. Clothing;
4. Entertainment;
5. Scientific research.

6. THE PLOT
 …And 3 groups, which are told to be “The three
stages of truth”:
1. Ridicule;
2. Violent opposition;
3. Acceptance.

7. COMMENTS
 Distributers were telling, that this kind of film won’t
have any viewers. On the other hand they were right,
because as soon as the film finally came out, soon it
was banned;
 Although the film managed to reach quite a lot of
viewers, when it was shown in the cinemas of some
states in the USA;
 The producers of “Earthlings” would actually want
the film to be seen by as many viewers as possible,
despite the fact of ferocious scenes;

8. THE MEANING OF THE FILM NAME
 “Since we all inhabit the Earth, all of us are
considered as earthlings. There’s no sexism, no
racism, or speciesism in the term earthling
(earth-ling – the one, who inhabits the Earth)…” –
the narrator told in the very beginning of the film.
 In other words – despite the difference in sex, race,
or species, we all are living on the same planet and
MUST act as natural beings. However in this case,
the stronger ones are brutally killing and exploiting
the weaker ones for the interests and profit of the
cruel nowaday’s society and government.

9. AWARDS
 In 2005, Earthlings premiered at the Artivist Film
Festival, (where it won Best Documentary Feature),
followed by the Boston International Film Festival,
(where it won the Best Content Award), and at the
San Diego Film Festival, (where it won Best
Documentary Film, as well as the Humanitarian
Award to Joaquin Phoenix for his work on the film).

10. QUATATIONS
 Joaquin Phoenix commented on the documentary:
“Of all the films I have ever made, this is the one that
gets people talking the most. For every one person
who sees ”Earthlings”, they will tell three.”
 Philosopher Tom Regan remarked:
"For those, who watch Earthlings, the world will
never be the same.”
 After watching the film, Woodie Harrelson said:
“This is the strongest movie about animal
exploitation”.

11. PERSONAL NOTATIONS
 The original film for the release is ~95 minutes long
and contains not all obtained data; it is available on
the internet;
 After Shaun Monson realised, that it is impossible to
show the movie on the big screens of the world, he
made a slightly different version of “Earthlings”, with
his personal comments being told in the camera and
containing absolutely all footage, that he managed to
collect within those 6 years; this version of the
documentary is also available to see now on the
internet and it’s lenght is ~134 minutes.

12. PERSONAL COMMENTS AND CONCLUSION
 I have no doubts, that absolutely every human being,
who would see the film, would sob, cry, weep or show
the emotions somehow else; but if not – you are a
heartless this day creature;
 I have heard a lot of situations, when after watching
“Earthlings” people become vegetarians or vegans
(even a few people from my close friends); the film is
difficult to watch full from the first try, because even
after an hour of watching you will feel very disturbed;
 I would consider “Earthlings” as the most horrifying
yet remarkable and striking film that was ever made
for human’ eyes.

13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION !
“ N O T R E S P O N D I N G I S A R E S P O N S E - WE ARE
EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE
D O N ' T D O . ”
- JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER
***
“ A U S C H W I T Z B E G I N S W H E R E V E R S O M E O N E
LOOKS AT A SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND
T H I N K S : T H E Y ’ R E O N L Y A N I M A L S . ”
- THEODOR W. ADORNO