Midlands Review of When Pigs Escape
When Pigs Escape
Directed by Jusep Moreno
2022
Branta Productions
“These are 11 pigs with international attention”.
When Pigs Escape is a new documentary following the ups and downs of a family of pigs who garnered widespread media acclaim as they escaped from a farm and went on the run in the English countryside.
For those not aware, the story begins when a pregnant pig (subsequently named Matilda) escaped her confines whilst pregnant before being spotted in the wild having given birth to 10 piglets.
Subsequently they were dubbed the “Ollerton 11” after the “Tamworth Two” – the two pigs made famous by similarly escaping in 1998 at an abattoir in Wiltshire.
The documentary opens with the complexity of saving this mum and her litter, given that she was still owned by the farmer.
But with some negotiation and a public campaign (and no doubt the significant media attention) Brinsley Animal Rescue in Nottingham ended up providing sanctuary to the loving family of animals. Plans for a protest were ultimately not needed as a deal was eventually struck.
The films delivers a simple portrait of farm life, often from the pigs point of view with low camera angles, minimal interviews and very much a gentle tone where we frequently get to see the animals frolicking and behaving, well, like an affectionate family.
It would take a person with a heart of stone not to feel empathy towards the group and the documentary pulls on the heartstrings with lingering shots of the Matilda and her babies as they play and sleep.
The documentary isn’t just a rose-tinted tale either though. As well as the happy story of being saved there is also sadness as the sanctuary has to deal with a tragic situation that won’t leave your eyes dry.
Given that, for animal lovers it is sometimes a hard watch but it’s never exploitative. The circle of life is shown in all its beauty and ugliness and the viewer has to contemplate their own attitudes towards the treatment of animals.
As humans, most of us naturally anthropomorphize our animals ensuring that they are worthy of a level of moral care and consideration. And with Matilda’s motherly oinks and sweet face, there’s no doubt we’re reflecting on our own family, our pets and how we treat everyone in the world around us.
And for those wanting a bit of simpler piglet entertainment, there’s lots too as the piglets are cute. I mean REALLY cute. Take the most cute thing you can think of, times that by cute, then triple that cuteness and you’re still nowhere near their level – especially as two of them get into a small paddling pool.
On the technical side, sound plays a big part in the documentary which makes it all the more powerful. Noises of nature and the animals take us to a countryside full of life but silence is used at moments to really pull you into this world. The absence of any overbearing score or voiceover creates a moving and honest portrayal of farm and animal life.
And it is these moments which allow time for an audience to reflect on the issues the film puts forward about humans’ relationship with animals.
With Nicolas Cage’s Pig and the pig-like creature in Okja, cinematic pig tales have returned to the fore recently and it’s no wonder why. When Pigs Escape adds to this film history with its compassionate portrait of these 11 animals. Focusing on their story, When Pigs Escape is everything you want in a documentary - uplifting, sad, thoughtful and much more. And it ends up being an exceptional and impressive piece of work by Jusep Moreno.
★★★★★
Michael Sales
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