Controversial Documentary "The Art of Killing a Cat" To Show at Toronto Film Festival - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jenya · 08-31-2004, 04:03 PM

Controversial Documentary "The Art of Killing a Cat" To Show at Toronto Film Festival

By KEVIN CONNOR
Toronto Sun

Tuesday August 31, 2004

NO AMOUNT of protests by animal activists will stop the Toronto Film Festival from featuring a documentary about the horrific skinning of Kensington the cat. "This was a programming decision based on merit. It is an intelligent, responsible handling of a case that is disturbing to many," Sean Farnel, a festival programmer, said yesterday.

Produced by Linda Feesey and directed by Zev Asher, Casuistry: The Art of Killing a Cat is to appear Sept. 14.

The documentary shows how Jesse Power, Anthony Wennekers and Matt Kaczorowski made their snuff film in 2001, slowly skinning alive a cat in a home near Kensington Market, a Toronto area neighborhood.

"It's a responsible film that shows flawed logic ... it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said.

Suzanne Lahaie, of Toronto's Freedom for Animals, said her group will picket fest venues unless the movie is removed.

Brian · 08-31-2004, 04:08 PM

I have three cats and if anything ever happened to them, I'd be mortified. People who abuse animals should be shot.

BowWowsBaby · 08-31-2004, 04:09 PM

Sterling Holobyte · 08-31-2004, 04:23 PM

Omg! I hope those three bastards are in prison. I would guess they probably aren't, huh? Probably got a slap on the wrist and sent on their way.

More serial killers in the making.

" ...it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said."
Bull****. This is for the voyeuristic titilation of people who like to see that kind of thing, nothing more. This article said more than enough to make someone reflect on cruelty to animals.

cablejockey · 08-31-2004, 04:26 PM

This is very disturbing news. The only people who will be able to sit thru that film will be those who hate cats, and those who won't even find a cat being skinned as awful to look at.

Dutabi84 · 08-31-2004, 04:50 PM

Sorry, first thing I thought of...

Jenya · 08-31-2004, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte

" ...it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said."
Bull****. This is for the voyeuristic titilation of people who like to see that kind of thing, nothing more. This article said more than enough to make someone reflect on cruelty to animals.

The Toronto Film Festival claims it's Freedom of Expression.

Here's the Toronto Star Article that expands the film festival's decision.

Dean Winchester · 08-31-2004, 05:36 PM

I HATE CATS... they are evil, lol. Well, I am allergic to cats so that is the main basis of my hate for them.

But... I don't know if I'd enjoy watching a cat skinned to death.

Sterling Holobyte · 08-31-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenya
The Toronto Film Festival claims it's Freedom of Expression.

Here's the Toronto Star Article that expands the film festival's decision.

I still don't buy it.

"They really do regret the whole thing," Feesey said of the killers.
Of course they do, after they were caught.

There's really not much difference between those guys who made the snuff film and those who are showing it. They are basically the killer's production and marketing team.

I'm not an activist, but I have to say I agree with what that activist has said about it.

"The way the world's gone, as long as somebody can make a buck, nobody cares."
That too.

Babes_Cat · 08-31-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Sorry, first thing I thought of...

ha, y boyfriend actually said that yesterday.

Kay Scarpetta · 08-31-2004, 06:46 PM

My cat's sitting on my shoulder as I type this, and now I feel like I'm going to puke. That movie is wrong on every level.

Hollow · 08-31-2004, 06:48 PM

HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA thats st

pid.

Jenya · 08-31-2004, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
I still don't buy it.

"They really do regret the whole thing," Feesey said of the killers.
Of course they do, after they were caught.

There's really not much difference between those guys who made the snuff film and those who are showing it. They are basically the killer's production and marketing team.

I'm not an activist, but I have to say I agree with what that activist has said about it.

"The way the world's gone, as long as somebody can make a buck, nobody cares."
That too.

Again, Yes it is disturbing. I, myself have no interest in watching it. If the audience is disturbed by such a film (which would not suprise me) than a public outcry will probably embaress the filmmakers enough to destroy it.

But the fact of the matter is- The Film festival considers it art - so that's probably the main reason why they allow it to be shown.

The same thing happened for allowing child and preteen nudity on Quebec television 5 months ago. Many people complained that child and preteen nudity on public television is a form of child pornography. However, when the issue was broght to the Quebec Supreme court, the decision was made that child pornograpy can only be defined if children are being exposed or forced into a sexual act. The judge decided that child and preteen nudity CAN be used as an artistic expression, and now it is allowed on Quebec public TV

That issue was fought under the Freedom of Expression clause in the Canadian Constitution.

Penny Lane · 08-31-2004, 08:22 PM

Who in their right mind would want to see that!

Jenya · 09-02-2004, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
Omg! I hope those three bastards are in prison. I would guess they probably aren't, huh? Probably got a slap on the wrist and sent on their way. More serial killers in the making.

" ...it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said."
Bull****. This is for the voyeuristic titilation of people who like to see that kind of thing, nothing more. This article said more than enough to make someone reflect on cruelty to animals.

Sterling:

Send your comments to the Voices: Public Opinion Section of the Toronto Star:

Voices: Cat-Killer Video.

I'm sure the organizer of The Toronto Film Festival reads the public's opinons on his decision to show this film. Tell him what you think.

08-31-2004, 04:03 PM	#1
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	Controversial Documentary "The Art of Killing a Cat" To Show at Toronto Film Festival Controversial Documentary "The Art of Killing a Cat" To Show at Toronto Film Festival By KEVIN CONNOR Toronto Sun Tuesday August 31, 2004 NO AMOUNT of protests by animal activists will stop the Toronto Film Festival from featuring a documentary about the horrific skinning of Kensington the cat. "This was a programming decision based on merit. It is an intelligent, responsible handling of a case that is disturbing to many," Sean Farnel, a festival programmer, said yesterday. Produced by Linda Feesey and directed by Zev Asher, *Casuistry: The Art of Killing a Cat* is to appear Sept. 14. The documentary shows how Jesse Power, Anthony Wennekers and Matt Kaczorowski made their snuff film in 2001, slowly skinning alive a cat in a home near Kensington Market, a Toronto area neighborhood. "It's a responsible film that shows flawed logic ... it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said. Suzanne Lahaie, of Toronto's Freedom for Animals, said her group will picket fest venues unless the movie is removed.
	__________________ Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! Head-ON is available without a Prescription Last edited by Jenya; 08-31-2004 at 05:49 PM.*

08-31-2004, 04:09 PM	#3
BowWowsBaby O'Ryan...October 19 Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 04, 2004 Location: PA (BLAH) Posts: 695
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08-31-2004, 04:50 PM	#6
Dutabi84 kittens must die Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: MN/TX Posts: 11,026	Sorry, first thing I thought of... Attached Images

08-31-2004, 06:46 PM	#11
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	My cat's sitting on my shoulder as I type this, and now I feel like I'm going to puke. That movie is wrong on every level.
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

08-31-2004, 06:48 PM	#12
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA thats stpid.

08-31-2004, 04:08 PM	#2
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	I have three cats and if anything ever happened to them, I'd be mortified. People who abuse animals should be shot.

08-31-2004, 04:23 PM	#4
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	Omg! I hope those three bastards are in prison. I would guess they probably aren't, huh? Probably got a slap on the wrist and sent on their way. More serial killers in the making. " ...it creates a space to reflect on important issues such as cruelty to animals," Farnel said." Bull****. This is for the voyeuristic titilation of people who like to see that kind of thing, nothing more. This article said more than enough to make someone reflect on cruelty to animals.

08-31-2004, 04:26 PM	#5
cablejockey Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: ontario canada Posts: 478	This is very disturbing news. The only people who will be able to sit thru that film will be those who hate cats, and those who won't even find a cat being skinned as awful to look at.

08-31-2004, 05:36 PM	#8
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I HATE CATS... they are evil, lol. Well, I am allergic to cats so that is the main basis of my hate for them. But... I don't know if I'd enjoy watching a cat skinned to death.

08-31-2004, 08:22 PM	#14
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,236	Who in their right mind would want to see that!
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