ZooScope

Author: Lucy Amos

  • The Future. Dir. Miranda July. Roadside Attractions. 2011.

    The scene begins with Paw-Paw the cat waiting to be picked up from the adoption centre, asking: “How long is 30 days?” It is not clear who this question is directed at, but since there is no one else within the scene we can only assume that these are Paw-Paw’s internal thoughts.     The only part…

  • The Plague Dogs. Dir. Martin Rosen. United Artists. 1982.

    Based on Richard Adams’ 1977 novel of the same name, The Plague Dogs[1] follows the story of Rowf and Snitter, who escape from an animal research centre after Rowf’s cage is left unlocked, finding themselves in the heart of the Peak District. The dogs hope to find a master, but every human encounter is hostile. Running out…

  • The Selfish Giant. Dir. Clio Barnard. IFC Films. 2013.

    Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant[1] (2013)follows the story of thirteen year old best friends Arbor and Swifty in a modern adaption of Oscar Wilde’s story of the same name. Once they are excluded from school the boys start collecting scrap for Kitten, the owner of the local scrapyard; although his name might suggest geniality, he is anything…