The death of the animals, part II
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Walkabout
longagonancy — 21 years ago(September 01, 2004 01:36 PM)
This might sound a bit stupid, but here goes I've wanted to see this movie for a while now, but I've been put off by the thought of a potentially disturbing scene. You see, I'm usually very (VERY) sensitive about animal deaths, in fiction as well as in real life.
Is it heartbreaking? Is it violent? (If you try to put yourselves in my shoes, that is) Does it compare to any scenes in any other movies I might have seen?
Thanks to anyone who might bother to answer!
-
Flying_Arsedoctor — 21 years ago(September 24, 2004 05:08 PM)
We see a number of animals killed in the film, both with good reason from the point of view of human survival and with compassion for nature, and in a violent and unnecessary manner. Without wishing to spoil the film I can't give much more away - I wouldn't say that this is an entirely dominant theme, though.
-
jim-1031 — 20 years ago(April 12, 2005 11:40 AM)
"The animal that is shot, then the shot is reversed and it comes back to life"
Re: above quote - I think its shots like this which date the film terribly. I'm sure at the time, in the early seventies they looked great, but the some of the so called 'effects' are laughable. The shots of the butcher cutting the meat spliced in with the Aborigine slaughtering the kangaroo is another example. Reminiscent of another (extremely over-rated) film from this era - 'Easy Rider'. -
tkeane-1 — 20 years ago(February 08, 2006 01:24 AM)
I agree that the film has dated badly due to some of the editing and camera effects. I didn't think that particular scene was too bad and when I think of it I can't really think of a modern scene of a similar nature.
I'm baffled by your comment about Easy Rider though. I can see how it's not to everyones taste and that it may be over rated in your opinion but there are no real special effects used in that film. Maybe some strange editing that would have been very original at the time and I believe remains original to this day. -
carpet_seller — 20 years ago(March 10, 2006 03:25 PM)
Your comment on the film is also laughable, you're not supposed to be watching this with a critical eye about the "effects" or how the film has been edited. The construction of the film - how it plays out - is part of the story. I just watched the film tonight in 2006 (first time I seen it in about 10 years) and it moved me a hell of a lot more than any of the crap that comes out of Hollywood today. If this film was made today exactly as it is now it would still be an excellent film.
Oh and Easy Rider.another fantastic film! -
PoppyTransfusion — 9 years ago(January 15, 2017 04:34 AM)
The buffalo shooting was not for human survival or compassion and the way those scenes are framed makes criticism for the hunters clear.
Ever tried, ever failed?
No matter.
Try again, fail again.
Fail better. -
L0GAN5 — 9 years ago(January 15, 2017 03:24 PM)
I don't think it does criticise the hunters. The hunters probably sell the meat at the market so in that sense they are not doing it for personal survival but the point of that scene is that civilization still sustains itself in the same primitive way it always has done. We may have a middle man for the meat we consume but I think that scene is meant to show that being civilized does not make us any better. When it comes down to it we still kill for food, albeit indirectly.
-
L0GAN5 — 9 years ago(February 09, 2017 11:14 AM)
Is that supposed to be the same buffalo? I don't think it is. It shows the hunters gutting it and driving around with one on their truck. Also I don't think they shoot at other animals "willy nilly": the scene of the buffalo that is shot is repeated several times over but simply shown from other perspectives. Also, the main purpose of the rotting buffalo seems to be to show the maggots consuming the flesh. I think the film hints at something much deeper, that death serves an ultimate purpose; that things must die for other things to live. This is true of any biological organism, we all require organic matter to survive. The hunting scenes (both the Aborigine and the white hunters) along with the maggots consuming the rotting buffalo seem to encapsulate a universal truth rather than a criticism. At least, that's the way it comes across to me anyway, but I guess everyone has their own interpretation.
-
moresugar7 — 20 years ago(October 26, 2005 05:03 AM)
it doesn't sound stupid, silly girl blue. but please ask yourself two questions. #1. how many human deaths have you seen in movies,(admittedly no ACTUAL death takes place, but it often portrays in gory detail an event that did happen in reality) and how many reports and scenes of actual human death have you seen on news or other media, and question #2. which sort of death should a human being be more concerned with or outraged over animal or human? you don't have to like either, but i believe more in the value of Human lifeNow, given your sensitivities, i suggest that you don't watch. or at least be aware that the deaths are pretty graphicbut, if you're in the australian outback facing starvation, what should you do? where does a hamburger, steak, or even a fish dinner come from?
just food for thought,
-dj -
longagonancy — 20 years ago(October 26, 2005 05:47 AM)
First of all, I'm vegan So I do feel it's my "right" to be concerned about these things.
Second of all, I'm fully aware of my double standards! I have no problem watching people getting killed in movies, but when it comes to animals I'm ridiculously sensitive. There's no good way of explaining it I usually don't mind animal deaths in comedies and funny settings though, it's the sort of epic deaths and the ones that really play off my feelings that get to me. And I just can't watch Animal Planet!
Even in the news, I usually react stronger to seeing animals suffer. They are totally in our mercy (as are many people, I know that) and the animal abuse is so widespread and accepted. After all, they're on our dinner plates and wrapped around our bodys.
But just to clarify: If I were in a situation where I had to choose between rescuing an animal and a human being, I would OF COURSE save the human, no question about it. Human life is precious, but I think we should use the strength of our hearts and minds to make the world a better place for all living creatures -
indigol — 20 years ago(January 31, 2006 07:16 AM)
Vegan, seeg-gan!
What you chose to eat has nothing to do with evolution, instinctly we are a predator society.
Everything we eat was once alive so one can't say because a plant doesn't scream when you kill it doesn't mean that it's not as alive as the meat being hunted.
We eat to survive, that's just basic nature.
All foods were alive
, remember that when one eats into a veggie or meat burger! -
saltrapty — 20 years ago(February 05, 2006 01:56 PM)
Walkabout is one of my favorite films of all time. its a must see in my opinion. The animal death is quick as mentioned earlier. there is one scene though Spoiler where this animal gets slit open and the blood just pours out like my grandmas bathtub faucet. its gross, but its important to the film. makes the guy go crazy. it could be worse.u ever hear of the ittalian cannibal films? cannibal holocaust is the most famousin that. dont read if you are going to get disturbed the americans chop off the legs of a giant turtle, and deshell it while still alive, after cutting off its head. someone also shoves a switchblade through a musktrats head, a cute monkeys head is sliced off. in mountian of the cannibal god, a lizard is skinned alive. (one of the grossest things ive ever seen) in jungle holocaust, they kill a big aligator, and skin it, and show its still beating heart. Affrica Addio is terrible with its animal cruelty, spearing an elephant to death. it takes forever! poor thing! made me sick. The Isle, is a korean film where a woman beats a dog, and drowns a bird, and kills a frog. (good movie though) Men behind the sun shows the death of a cat. So.my point is, there are ALOT of sick movies out there, that show animal CRUELTY, in its sickest form.walkabout however, is not cruel with its actual animal death. its quick, and not exploitive, like in the movies i mentioned earlier. If you havent seen it yet, u really should. its a GREAT movie.
-
swgcheeseburger — 16 years ago(December 22, 2009 10:13 AM)
Reading this whole thread has inspired me to buy a big fat steak for dinner tonight.
I love the movie walkabout, it is a rare film filled with visual metaphors. The scene where the animals are being shot is emphasizing moderns culture of excess and waste whereas the aborigines culture is in harmony with nature.
Go ahead and watch it, just close your eyes at the water buffalo scene.