Becoming Animal

Each fall, crowds of people head to nature reserves to witness the deer rutting season, but they seldom wonder how the animals might feel about this. It’s a question you might well ask yourself after seeing Becoming Animal. This philosophical essay explores the relationship between humans and animals, culture and nature.

The setting is Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, where a moose is chewing its cud by a babbling creek. From this calm vantage point, filmmakers Peter Mettler and Emma Davie not only immerse us in what's growing, blooming and lurking in the park, but they also explore the nature of their human fascination for it. Why and how are they present as filmmakers? Is it possible to view the world from the perspective of an animal? What defines a human being and an animal, and what language can you use to express this? Philosopher David Abram's voice-over leads us through the thought process as we move towards a compelling visual crescendo. How could the camera resist such magnificent natural beauty?