Animals

A Film That Will Change Hearts and Save Lives--And How You Can Help

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Activism and Actions, Animal Emotions, Cage Free and Free Range, Farmed Animals, Slaughter, Vegan Living, Videos, Animal Rights

Published June 28, 2009 @ 06:12AM PT

Those of us who were moved by the first version of Peaceable Kingdom--including so many of us whose lives were forever and dramatically changed by Peaceable Kingdom--have been anxiously awaiting the new, improved, even more powerful second version. Filmmakers James LaVeck and Jenny Stein have been laboring for years over the project, and much to the excitement of a lot of people, the film is finally finished.

If you're signed up for the Tribe of Heart newsletter and for updates on the film, you know this already, but if not, here are the details (with a preview of the film at the end of the post):

We are very excited to announce that Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home is completed and will be showing at film festivals this Fall, followed by other special events yet to be announced. Recent test screening results were incredibly promising, with 97% of test viewers indicating that they found viewing the film a worthwhile experience, the highest audience approval rating a Tribe of Heart film has ever received.

Perhaps most exciting of all, audience feedback shows that a wide range of people find the film a mind- and heart-opening exploration of the human conscience. It is, as one test viewer described it, "first and foremost a film about doing the right thing." In these tumultuous times, in which so many people are overwhelmed and confused about their own role in the struggle to save our planet, there is a pressing need for films that can help awaken large numbers of people and inspire the tremendous level of effort required to change our ways individually and collectively.

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home brings new understanding not only by exposing a hidden injustice, but even more so by offering a truly compelling exploration of the true nature of those who are experiencing the injustice. The film explores a way of thinking of, and relating to animals that is new to most viewers, and that nearly everyone who has seen the film comments upon and finds inspiring. We noticed that an unusually high number of test viewers seem to have taken their viewing experience as an opportunity to change their own lives, to take steps toward aligning their daily choices with their values.

Continue reading here for some of those test viewers' comments. James and Jenny are also the creators of HumaneMyth.org, another absolutely invaluable resource for helping people learn what really happens to animals and why killing them without need to is never humane (readers who've been following this blog from the start have seen me link to this resource multiple times; I named it Animal Rights Web Site of the Year for 2008, remember?). But all the work James and Jenny tirelessly put into the film, the site, and other projects to help animals and educate people takes great time and resources, and they could use the support of the community. If you can help with Peaceable Kingdom, please do donate here.

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home promises to break new ground as an artistic statement and as a vehicle for personal transformation. The demands of completing this multi-year film project along with numerous related educational projects has exhausted Tribe of Heart's financial resources. In order to realize the potential of this tremendous opportunity to open hearts and minds around the world, we need your financial support now. Please consider making a donation today. Our entire creative team believes that this film represents the best and most important work we have ever done, and every step along the way, it has been the power of caring, compassionate people who have made it all possible. Working together, we can (and will!) change the world.

The trailer for the film has been one of the featured videos here for some time, but in case you're new, or you haven't yet taken the time to watch, here it is again. Please watch.

Trailer for Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home from Tribe of Heart on Vimeo.