Rodents of Unusual Size

Rodents of Unusual Size is part zoology lesson, part environmental impact statement, part unflinching look into the recklessness and resiliency of human nature, with a bit of horror film mixed in. Beautifully filmed in the swamplands of Louisiana, Rodents is so engaging that it was even hard for me to look away during a few gory scenes. And I am someone who goes to great lengths to avoid walking past the butcher case in a supermarket. Watch this film! It's a story you aren't likely to hear about anywhere else.

"Rodents of Unusual Size" is a documentary about the nutria infestation of Louisiana. It seems in the 1930s, the huge rodents were brought to the state to create a fur industry. It seems back in the day, nutria fur coats were the rage. However, sometime after their arrival to fur farms, some escaped and being horny critters, they bred like...um...nutrias! Soon the state was covered in the animals...which wasn't so bad until the fur industry crashed and burned because of changing times and attitudes about fur. Now, there was very little to keep them in check so the Louisiana government has taken to putting a $5 bounty on them. Additionally, some have taken to eating the apparently disgusting but delicious creatures. While the film didn't say it, I also know that the state was sending out mini cookbooks filled with nutria recipes!

This documentary is definitely pro-hunting....and considering what a nuisance they are (they cause severe damage to the canals and swamps), it makes sense. I am sure some folks might get offended by this and the suggestion that they start using nutria fur again...though they kill the critters anyway and making coats and the like from them certainly makes sense to me.

Overall, a surprisingly interesting film...one that kept my interest throughout.

Rodents of Unusual Size is a fantastic documentary that captures the spirit and resilience of the people living in the Louisiana bayou. Part environmental film, part human character study, ROUS presents the challenges of a community rallying for their land against a thriving invasive species. The filmmakers approach the topic and subjects with a wonderful balance of humor and heart, you can't help but fall in love with this community and simultaneously question your ethics.

Before seeing this film, I didn't quite know what to expect. But I was almost immediately blown away by how spectacular it proved to be. Not only is the filmography and editing visually stunning and beautifully executed but the story and characters are refreshingly unique and weave a captivating tale. I was transported into Louisiana and truly had a feel for the lives and culture of the area. Through the consistent theme of the nutria, this film was truly enlightening and entertaining. Touching upon so many unexpected topics such as fashion, cuisine, history, environmental issues, sports, and many more, Rodents of Unusual Size was extensively researched, informative, but most of all, enjoyable. The viewer meets so many complex and likable people with real stories that were relatable while also paradoxically being so foreign. Through their tales (again, mostly centered around nutria in various fascinating ways), the viewer has the pleasure of truly feeling connected and yearning for more. I feel as if I am so much more informed of an entire culture, both with positives and negatives, that I wasn't even aware existed, which is a thrilling sensation. When I noticed the film was almost over, I had two urges: the first was to restart it because I hadn't yet had enough of this fantastic film. The second was to immediately hop on a plane to Louisiana.

Rodents of Unusual Size was a fun and engaging documentary with beautiful filmography. It captures Louisiana culture and its people beautifully through the entertaining lens of a giant rodent. It was everything I expected from a well produced documentary, but what engaged me the most was the way it exposed the particular moral dilemmas of nutria in Louisiana in a way that can be applied to broader conflicts. Just one example: why do people, and often wealthy people, tend to treat these animals like pets and protect them when they are in fact destroying the very land they live on? The filmmakers did a great job of portraying multiple sides of an argument with respect and allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions. Would love to see more films from them!