Gunda

This gorgeous farm documentary, filmed in black and white, is stripped to its core, with no music, narration, or even humans. But it somehow captures the rhythms, innovations, and even emotions of animals. Directed by Russian filmmaker Viktor Kossakovsky, Gunda features such subtle, searching cinematography that it inspired Joaquin Phoenix to sign on as an executive producer and director Paul Thomas Anderson to call it "pure cinema," proclaiming that "it's what we should all aspire to as filmmakers and audiences."

The simple stories presented here, such as the pigs growing up and learning how to take care of themselves, are suddenly profound, with a truly heartbreaking ending, as mama pig winds up alone. The one-legged chicken comes across as wily and clever as he overcomes obstacles such as a fallen tree branch. And the cows' problem-solving and teamwork are positively inspiring. The movie's long shots can be hypnotic but also lulling, and it could be easy for viewers' minds to drift -- hopefully in tune with the movie's own rhythms. But, truthfully, even with very little iffy content, Gunda might be a bit too slow for smaller children.