Flouncing with the flock.
The AARDMAN production of Chicken Run (2000) has been a favorite of mine ever since I was introduced to it. It has a lot going for it, from an unusual medium (stop motion using clay figures), sympathetic characters, a good story full of authentic obstacles and setbacks, to a classic moral dilemma and the consequences of a wrong choice. One can even argue it’s an Other story within an Other movie.
How so? The outer Other story is that this is about a captive flock of verbal, intelligent chickens – a species which we humans, at least the Western civilization members, mostly consider to be a domesticated food animal. We defend it and care for it only in order to easily predate it, unlike dogs or cats, who are primarily working members of the family. So by portraying chickens as intelligent creatures, fighting for their lives and freedom, opens the audiences’ mind to the idea that creatures as common and mistreated as chickens may have individuals wills and needs – and even a cloudy self-awareness.
And then, within, is the story of the intruder into the flock, Rocky. As a non-member of the flock, and even from another nation, he brings new thinking to the terrifying problem facing the flock, opening their minds to new thoughts. And, of course, the flow is symmetrical, as his secretive escape from the farm, leaving the flock behind, leaves him unexpectedly sick to his stomach, eventually paving his return to help save the flock.
It may seem irrelevant or immaterial, but opening the minds of viewers to new thoughts leads to people considering how to better treat each other, not just directly, but indirectly as well.
Or you can just go watch the movie and enjoy yourself.
Recommended.
