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Bestiaire (2012) is a visually captivating, experimental film by Quebecois filmmaker Denis Cote that explores the lives of various animals held in captivity at a zoo. Shot entirely in HD and without any dialogue, the film presents an abstract portrait of the animals' existence, their interactions with each other and with the people who care for them, and the complex relationships between humans and nature.

The film opens with a striking image of a group of cows resting in a field, their bodies obscured by a dense fog. As the camera zooms in on each cow in turn, we begin to see them as individual beings, each with their own unique markings and expressions. This focus on the individuality and personality of each animal sets the tone for the rest of the film, which seeks to subvert the traditional depiction of captive animals as mere props in a human-controlled environment.

Throughout the film, we are presented with a series of vignettes that showcase different animals and their routines: a majestic longhorn bull being led through a snowy landscape by his caretaker, a group of giraffes casually munching on leaves while a group of schoolchildren look on in awe, a pride of lions basking in the sun as visitors snap photos from behind a protective barrier. The animals are presented in their natural habitats, but the presence of the human observers (zookeepers, visitors, maintenance workers) is always palpable, reminding us of the intricate power dynamics at play in these spaces.

Cote's camera is a powerful tool in this exploration of the visual language of captivity. He often employs close-ups and low-angle shots to draw attention to the animals' physicality and natural beauty, but also uses framing and composition to highlight the artificiality of the enclosures and the humans' imposition of order on the animals' lives. For example, a shot of a peacock perched on a metal rail is framed with geometric precision, emphasizing the bird's vibrant plumage against the sterile, manufactured environment.

Interspersed with these shots of the animals are scenes of human activity at the zoo: a group of workers hastily preparing for a storm, a janitor sweeping up discarded food scraps, a veterinarian examining a tranquilized rhinoceros. These glimpses into the daily routines of the zoo staff serve to humanize them and show the care and attention they give to the animals in their charge, but also underscore the absurdity of keeping wild animals in captivity.

One of the most affecting sequences in the film involves a group of buffalo being herded into a new habitat by a team of human handlers. The process is slow and deliberate, and Cote's camera lingers on the buffalo as they adjust to their new surroundings. As they begin to graze on the fresh grass and interact with each other, we get a sense of their agency and autonomy, but also of the way in which their freedom has been curtailed by the very act of domestication.

Throughout Bestiaire, Cote challenges the viewer to question their assumptions about the relationship between humans and animals, and to consider the ways in which captivity shapes both parties. By eschewing dialogue and narrative in favor of abstract visual and sensory experiences, Cote encourages us to engage with the animals on a primal level, to acknowledge their individuality and beauty, and to confront the ethical implications of keeping them captive for our own entertainment.

In conclusion, Bestiaire is a thought-provoking film that offers a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and animals. Through its mesmerizing visuals and immersive sound design, the film challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about the natural world and our place in it. It is a testament to the power of cinema to inspire empathy and understanding beyond the constraints of language and narrative.

Bestiaire is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 71.