MartinHafer Mark Lewis has made several quirky documentaries about animals--such as about dogs, cats, cane toads and in this case, the chicken. In the case of this chicken film, the show seems very episodic--with a wide variety of folks discussing chickens. Some are farmers, some are people who HATED that their neighbor suddenly started raising very LOUD chickens, some talk about the famous headless chicken ('Mike') owned by Olie, and some seemed just plain infatuated with them! One woman, in particular, has a pet chicken that she dotes over and adores--just like a puppy. I will make no comments about this lady--you just have to see her to believe her! In addition to all the odd stories and characters you also briefly take a trip to a HUGE egg-producing facility that was a bit disturbing--the chickens really were crammed together very tightly. You also, at a GREAT distance, see a guy beheading a chicken and discussing how this is something people don't want to think about--but we DO eat chickens! There's nothing exactly profound or deep about this film. Just an odd little celebration of this animal. Still, in a strange way, it's quite watchable. A decent time-passer.

tributarystu I wouldn't have expected such a strong, consistent and enticing show from a chicken documentary, just like most people here. Watching the tender tales of chicken love was a fun and, to some degree, beautiful experience. The connections that can be made between human beings and animal usually have this loving and innocent quality to them that eludes most relationships in life. To find these chicken stories and portray them in such a skillful way is surely a feat worth praising.Yet, while it is consistent with the world-view of this film, I resent the fact that industrially bred chicken - and their owners - are deemed to be inferior in passion and devotion. While the comments (or lack thereof) in presenting the larger chicken business do not go into blatantly manipulative affirmations against chicken products, they still spell out a very negative view of what is outlined to be exploitative behavior. I'm sure you can find interesting tales of care from farmers who happen to own large chicken housing establishments, because it's not easy at all to look after tens of thousands of chickens and ensure they live a healthy life. And while there is certainly a level of detachment involved in "the industrial chicken", it's necessity for basic and essential food products cannot be denied and should not be denigrated. To my mind, restricting the film to what it does best - establish the beauty of life - would've done it more good and would've conferred it a higher consistency and integrity, in a purely structural sense.Beyond this though, which is truly only a slight part of this documentary, I think it's worth a recommendation for its ability to encapsulate the specialness in this absolutely unique relationship people have with animals.

pdwebbsite You know if it says PBS it will have quality, as far as documentaries go--but who would have thought an hour's worth of chicken fact, trivia, and homespun truth could be so entertaining! Having grown up around friends and neighbors who raised chickens in their backyards I know how amusing these feathered comedians can be. Yet, there is also something dignified about them as well. This documentary covers the whole scenario of where chickens are in the hearts of Americans. They are livestock, they are pets, they are sideshow wonderment,and they are noisy nuisances. They are also big business. Clever editing, reenactments, and filming techniques make this a keeper. We tend to watch it in winter, right around when the snow is lingering too long on the ground. Watching Cotton the Chicken taking a swim, or the drama of Valerie's rescue is enough to bring anyone out of the winter glums.

nbasile The director said this is his celebration of the chicken. He is right. I really enjoyed this film. It shows the charming stories of chickens living on a lovely Maine farm. It also shows the horrors of chickens living in factories. But, it does not preach, only gives you the facts. I highly recommend it. You won't believe the re-enactments!