Earthlings

Earthlings is an award-winning documentary movie written and directed by Shaun Monson and narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. The film analyzes the relationship that people have with animals in today's world; specifically pointing out the negative ways that animals are used inhumanely for human profit. Over the course of the movie the narrator discusses the cruel ways that animals are treated for the pet industry (backyard breeders and unwanted homeless animals), for the food industry (filthy, vile and horribly cruel conditions and treatment), for entertainment (wildlife animals in zoos and circuses), fashion (fur), and science (animal testing).

The images and video used in the documentary, which were obtained over a five year period with undercover cameras, are powerful and disturbing. Almost no narration is needed; the video lens unflinchingly tells the whole story for the animals. Joaquin Phoenix's somber narration puts the horrifying video in context with well-researched facts and narratives. Moby, a dedicated vegan, provided the eerie, haunting soundtrack for the Earthlings documentary. His beautiful yet melancholy tones serve as an allegory for the innocence and beauty of domestic and wildlife animals subjected to the cruelest treatment.

A measure of a society is how it treats animals.