Pet Therapy
DOCUMENTARY | 5 – 10 MIN. | EVERYDAY LIFE, HEALING AFTER LONELINESS, HEALTH CHALLENGES
A Zimbabwean-born animal advocate shares the power of the human-dog connection.
But What Does It Mean?
EXPLORE THE FILM'S MEANING →
Even when we feel that we have a sense of a film’s meaning, there is often more to uncover.
Watch this video to better understand the film and why we selected it for the festival.
CLICK TO EXPLORE THE FILM'S THEMES
Just like Diana Roberts, draw, paint, or take a photograph of a pet or animal that has given you love and solace. Reflect on the different ways the animal has comforted and supported you and the relationship that you had together. How can you capture this in your work?
Meet the Filmmaker
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Charles Frank is a director, editor, and co-founder of Voyager, a Brooklyn-based production company. He makes films that are empathetic, humanistic and heart filled. His work has reached over 10 million people online, been featured in The Atlantic, Huffington Post, and SF Globe, and received numerous Vimeo Staff Picks. He served as an editor on a short for The New York Times Op-Docs, and on “4 Your Eyez Only,” a feature doc for HBO on rapper J. Cole. Through all of his work, he strives to connect audiences to the subjects on screen, but also to one another.
WHY THEY MADE THE FILM
“I came across Diana’s story in a skijoring Facebook group and was moved to reach out. We had a brief phone call where she shared a few stories and her feelings toward her animals. It immediately captivated me and within a couple of weeks Jeff Melanson (cinematographer & composer) and I were traveling her way to start filming.”
Cinematographer & Composer: Jeff Melanson
Editor: Nico Bovat
Sound Designer & Mixer: Calvin Pia
Your Turn: What did YOU think of this film?
8 Comments
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UnLonely Film Fest 4
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ABOUT THE UNLONELY PROJECT
The UnLonely Project broadens public awareness of the negative physical and mental health consequences of loneliness while also promoting creative arts-based approaches to reduce the burden. Click here for mental health resources.
This film is so incredibly beautiful and moving…I identified with the woman because I too live alone with my rescued greyhounds. “They always want to do what you want to do…no person is like that” she says. My affinity with all creatures and dogs in particular drew me to want to watch this film. We are all going to die and this aspect of not only the woman’s failing health but the dogs too, because they rarely outlive us was very poignant. Thank you for making this beautiful film.
I think I will always make room for an animal in my life. They can be so dependable, loving and forgiving, unlike most people.
Thank you for this beautiful story, I loved it and it made me feel sad of what she said about time.
Beautiful film. I want to learn more about the connection between animals and humans.
I was struck by the line about her dogs “liking everyone, no matter if they are suffering or sick”; something we (health care providers) could learn from.
What a beautiful story! Especially during times like what we are all experiencing…a touch of animal kindness with the human spirit can lift us all up! Animals are great!
They give you unconditional love, hold no grudges, show no jealousy or anger, displays no ego, does not judge nor show hate and never greedy (except for treats and food). All they do best is deliver time and time again LOVE 24/7! If only we, human beings, can learn and capture their essence of life living together in this universe. Thank you for this beautiful story!
So heartwarming, and confirms how improtant our pets are in our lives. Especially now! thank you
I had my Mainecoon cat Sam for 15 years until his death last year. I suffer from a TBI & have Bi-Polar Disorder. I had no idea how much I leaned on Sam until he was gone. I miss him terribly but he ruined me for any other pet as he was a lap cat & behaved more like a dog than a cat. Watching this film may give me the push I need to get a “therapy” pet.