Unlocking the Cage

As much a testament to our legal advocacy system and its potential, as to animal rights. It culminates in the last 15 minutes when we hear advocates from BOTH sides, each impassioned with impressive arguments, well executed. Bravo to the lawyers. This is what anyone could want from a court: to be heard and understood - unfortunately not always the case from my experience as an attorney, and as can be gleaned from some of the earlier footage in this movie. Perhaps this movie should be required viewing on any law or judge school syllabus.

'UNLOCKING THE CAGE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A documentary about the Nonhuman Rights Project, a nonprofit animal rights organization that is trying to establish legal personhood for certain nonhuman animals (such as apes, elephants and cetaceans). The organization includes a team of animal rights lawyers, legal experts and volunteer law students. They're lead by attorney Steven Wise. The movie follows the ambitious efforts of Wise and his team, between the years of 2013 and 2015. It was directed by veteran documentary filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, who have worked together on multiple other films (including the 1993 Bill Clinton presidential campaign doc 'THE WAR ROOM'). I found the film to be very well made and educational; it's somewhat frustrating as well, but ultimately inspiring.

The movie follows Steven Wise, and his legal team, as they attempt to make history by presenting an unprecedented courtroom battle, to change the rights of a nonhuman animal from a thing to a person with legal rights. They think the best way to do this is to first establish these rights for animals like apes, elephants and cetaceans (and hopefully the rest will follow). So they first seek out ape clients, that are in desperate need of better living conditions. The movie follows their entire two year (historical) legal battle.

Being a huge animal rights supporter myself, and passionate vegan, I absolutely loved this film. I even cried a little (multiple times) at the end. I hadn't even heard of Steven Wise prior to this movie, but now he's definitely a big hero of mine (as well as everyone else involved in the Nonhuman Rights Project). The film itself is well made, paced and informative. If you love a good court room battle movie, and you're an animal lover, you definitely can't go wrong with this film. The end (of course) is a little frustrating, but like I already said, it's ultimately inspiring as well!

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This documentary and movement is cutting edge and controversial. I am so grateful the filmmaker has given this topic long overdue attention. Unlocking The Cage has at least started the conversation and humans are beginning to listen. Brilliant. I was very inspired to get involved and wanted to learn more. I can only hope that Steven Wise and The Non Human Rights Project see the fruits of their labor sooner than later. Speciesism is causing the destruction of the planet and I hope this film becomes more widely available because I will tell everyone I know to see it. This movie is a must see and humans need to start thinking beyond themselves and care about other beings we share the earth with.

I'd like to ask those two reviewers from San Diego who gave this ridiculous film with high(est) rating. So you guys are animal right hugger, right? How about the chicken's right? Cow-cattle right? Who gives you the right to hire horse jockeys racing horses and bet on them? What about the greyhounds' animal right? Who gives the right to cage birds ripping their right to fly freely? You guys categorized dogs and cats as PETS, but once you either cannot afford having such luxury or the patience, you get rid of them to the humane society for adoption, but if nobody take them, they would be terminated by lethal injection. Why use ape and elephant here? There are so many animals in the zoo, did you ever care for their rights? This is such a phony farce and you guys praised it? How do you like your steaks being prepared, Sir? Medium rare? You prefer chicken breast because it's white meat? You really enjoyed this film? Yeah, I know you guys are Christians, so you treat apes and elephants like your brothers.

The next step in Human Evolution is the documentary film, Unlocking the Cage. The film follows Non Human Rights Project, Founder and Attorney Steven Wise, as he sets out to prove that cognitively complex animals such as Chimpanzees, Elephants, Whales and Dolphins have the capacity for limited personhood rights. Academy Award Nominated Filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus spent several years documenting Steven Wise and his journey to ask the question, what does it mean to be autonomous and should sentient beings have the right to freedom? If you liked The Cove and An Apology to Elephants then you'll love Unlocking the Cage! Not since Blackfish has there been a film as important to the Anti-Captivity Movement.