Did you know there are more tigers in captivity in Texas than in the wild in India? And that Burmese pythons are now an invasive species in Florida? Humans have the worst fucking ideas. A documentary about America’s thriving exotic-pet subculture, The Elephant in the Living Room keeps its feet firmly and patiently planted in the OH-MY-GOD-PEOPLE-GET-A-GRIP camp, without losing sight of its subjects’ humanity. Because both sides will break your heart—the pair of African lions confined to a 100-square-foot horse trailer in Ohio are only a little bit sadder than the good-hearted old man who considers the cats his family and knows he’s failing them. Downside: The movie contains no actual elephants in actual living rooms. Frowny face. (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film)
Lindy West was born an unremarkable female baby in Seattle, Washington. The former Stranger writer covered movies, movie stars, exclamation points, lady stuff, large frightening fish, and much, much more.... More by Lindy West
Not to mention the hundreds of “hunting” “ranches” in west Texas where douchey Hemingway-wannabes can shoot, in enclosed pastures, from four-wheel-drive vehicles, a variety of exotic hoofstock species native to Asia, Africa, etc. but raised for the purpose, so said douches can have taxidermied big-game “trophy” heads on the walls of their “man”-caves.
You need something to eat the weiner dogs.
Yappy little nuisances …
This was not what I was expecting, but it is MIND-BLOWINGLY-GOOD. Must see.
@3 good to hear.
I’m guessing this movie will make my overly sensitive self weep more than I can bear, so I’ll probably skip it. But I’m interested to know if the film addresses why it is still legal to keep exotic pets in the United States? Does anyone know?
It is very sad to hear that our way of life has destroyed the natural habitat of the tiger so that there are more in the US instead of India. Living Room Decorating Ideas