Review

Incidents that in lesser hands could have been assembled into a shocking exploitation film instead have been used to make a truly original, meditative work that bravely explores the psyches of individuals who are zoophiles: people who have formed an unusually close emotional or sexual bond with their animal companions. The story of the man who passed away is only part of this artfully constructed, experimental documentary that uses discreet reenactments, personal testimony and surreal cinematography to explore a segment of society that has chosen to remain closeted. In Washington (where until recently it was not illegal to “love” your pet), the deceased man and other “zoos” regularly congregated on a ranch where they kept their horses. Here they also enjoyed doing a variety of mundane activities familiar to most of us: sitting, chatting, watching television, sharing potluck dinners and enjoying copious amounts of slushy drinks. Nothing in this film is what you would expect. This Sundance Film Festival selection elicited a wide variety of reactions; you won’t soon forget it.

 -- Jennifer Steinberg