Russian filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky shoots his documentary in black and white with no music, subtitles or narration. The film is stripped down to its bare essence. It’s a documentary about farm animals from their perspective. Nothing really happens from small moments of their lives. That is the magic behind this captivating work. The camera follows these animals on a Norwegian farm. There is no plot. There is no animal cruelty. It is simply a visual experience. The only background soundtrack comes from bugs buzzing and birds chirping. There is no agenda here. ‘Gunda’ is a unique piece of filmmaking that makes us feel a bit of empathy for these animals.
It is an immersive experience from start to finish. The opening shot is Gunda, a female pig that has just given birth to a litter of piglets. It is hard to resist these adorable little piggies. We watch them bond with mom and their siblings. They fight for a teat. The camera follows them as they roam around the farm. This is not a factory farm where the movements are restricted. The piglets have the freedom to explore their surroundings. Gunda is always close by to nudge them along. You get the sense that she genuinely cares about them. When it rains, there is a wonderful scene showing the piglets trying to sip the rainwater.
The supporting cast includes a small flock of chickens. They are allowed to explore their new landscape like astronauts walking on a new planet. We are at their eye level. The more the camera focuses on their movements, the more the audience is drawn into their simple lives. We even get a glimpse of a one-legged chicken as he becomes bolder with every hop. There is another scene showing a herd of cattle running without any restraints. At one point, the cows are staring directly at the camera. It almost appears like they are observing us. They look relaxed and tranquil.
And before you know it, we return to the piglets. It appears that time has moved forward. The litter is bigger now. In a way, it is hard not to feel a bit of attachment to the pigs. They really do not do much of anything on screen yet it is the way the cinematography is shot by Kossakovsky that makes it so dramatic. There is never any violence shown against the animals. They are clueless of what awaits them past the farmyard fence. You can tell through his lens the filmmaker cares deeply for these innocent creatures.
‘Gunda’ is a slow-burn film. It is one of the most immersive nature documentaries ever made. It showcases the lives of animals that are taken for granted. They end up on our dinner table. The film is not trying to convert you to veganism. It simply makes you appreciate these beings. It makes you appreciate life. As you watch ‘Gunda’ in all its poetic glory, you realize these animals will become our food. You don’t have to feel guilty about it. It is the circle of life.
