Animals Are Beautiful People


Animals Are Beautiful People is a 1974 South African nature documentary written, produced, directed, filmed and edited by Jamie Uys, about the wildlife in Southern Africa, presented with comedic elements. It was filmed in the Namib Desert, the Kalahari Desert and at the Okavango River and Okavango Delta. It was the recipient of the 1974 Golden Globe Award for [Best Documentary Film].
The film, a critical and commercial success, was independently made by Uys, also known for his later African comedy The Gods Must Be Crazy.

General description

The film begins in the Namib desert, with the narrator saying: "You'd think nobody could make a living here." But the film proves the opposite and shows the lives of the animals that live there.
The narrator concludes: "But to the Oryx and the little creatures of the Namib, this waterless, hostile desert is paradise."
The second third of the film shows the rich life at the Okavango River and Okavango Delta and the last third of the film focuses on life in the Kalahari desert.

Criticisms

One scene depicts baboons, elephants, giraffes, warthogs and other African animals eating fermented fruit of the Marula tree. The Recreational [drug use in animals|animals then appear intoxicated], and they stagger around to comic effect, before nightfall comes and they fall asleep. Some experts have claimed that some scenes were likely staged; elephants would be too large, for example, and drink too much water to get intoxicated.

Classical music

The film uses classical music and especially well-known pieces to support a scene. A few examples:
This incomplete list does include almost all mentioned species.