Product Details

• Actors: Sigourney Weaver
• Directors: Carol L. Fleisher
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rating: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Family Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004UG9S
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,315 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Documentary > Nature & Wildlife > Animals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Are animals closer to humans on an emotional level than generally has been believed? The many scientists, researchers, wildlife photographers, and other animal experts interviewed in this Discovery Channel video answer with a resounding yes. They make their case in this 93-minute documentary, narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, with stories of despondent dogs, grieving chimps, and lab rats who laugh when tickled. The first half focuses on happy bonds between mother and child, siblings, and animals and humans. The second half delves into the darker subjects of sadness and grief, offering astounding assertions such as elephants secrete a tearlike substance when upset and search dogs finding only corpses in the Oklahoma City bombing case needed treatment for depression. While the focus is on mammals, mollusks get some air time in the form of octopuses that appear to change color according to their situation. Backing up observations with brain imaging and genetic testing, the scientists--and this film--make a compelling view for any animal lover. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the bond between all creatures, January 15, 2004

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This is a fascinating, and often quite moving documentary showing the emotional kinship between man and his fellow mammals. The film footage is remarkable, starting with the basic emotions that pertain to survival, "fear, aggression, and the urge to procreate", and then moves on to the more subtle feelings of joy, compassion, grief, loyalty, and even depression.
The caring of one another in animal societies is extraordinary, and shows the bonds of friendship between species of primates, meerkats, wolves, and many more.

The section on maternal love is wonderful, with one exceptional segment by wildlife photographer Martyn Colbeck who follows a herd of elephants, and captures the tremendous patience and devotion exhibited towards a recently born calf as he struggles to walk. There are many instances of incredible sacrifice, including the story of a dog who saves a young boy.
It shows how rescue dogs can show signs of depression, and rats who laugh when they are tickled. I love the chimp who is looking at Gourmet Magazine, and points to pictures of pastries and signs "sweet".
As Dr. Roger Fouts of the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute says, the difference between us and other animals is "one of degree, and not of kind".

Produced, written and directed by Carol Fleisher, and calmly and carefully narrated by Sigourney Weaver, viewing this documentary is time well spent; it is informative as well as entertaining, but parents of young children should realize that though there is plenty of fun and frolic, it is far from being a cute animal film, and there are scenes of violence and tragedy. Total running time is 95 minutes.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LANDMARK, October 4, 2003

By	sirentonga "sirentonga" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Dogs Smile and Chimpanzees Cry (DVD)

This film is a landmark in blending science and advocacy. It seeks to assert that animals lead complex and sophisticated emotional lives, not unlike our own. But it manages to walk the fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. It avoids going too far into the subjective. It doesn't try to emotionally blackmail the viewer with mere cute/stagey displays of animal interaction. Instead it relies heavily on scientific observation in both natural and controlled environments. But by the sheer genious of editing and writing, one cannot help but be drawn into the lives of these noble creatures just as one would a good drama. The movie wisely lets the animals' behavior "do the talking", and doesn't try to push the viewers' judgement one way or the other. It left me rethinking everything I had assumed about animals, emotions, and the nature of our (and by 'our' I mean all of God's creatures) existence.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FULL of much research and wonderful images, September 29, 2003

By	Kevin Miller "kevinmichelle" (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This movie shows how closely related we humans are to mammals with scientific research and observation. It gives wonderful descriptions and examples of the differences between reptilian brains and mammillian brains. It is truly incomprehensible that some think that animals (mammals other than human) are not capable of such emotions as love, compassion, anger, loyalty, remorse, etc. At the end of the movie I was questioning if humans are de-evolving to reptile brains due to our parenting of our own offspring (or lack of parenting). Wonderful movie. I highly recommend it for all ages.