What Animals in the Great War is About
Animals in the Great War tells the story of a population we rarely hear about in WWI narratives: the horses, dogs, pigeons, and other creatures that were conscripted into the trenches alongside soldiers. Director Folco Quilici's 60-minute documentary examines how these animals weren't just incidental to the war effort—they were essential to it, and they paid the price. From cavalry charges to messenger pigeons carrying critical communications, from pack animals hauling supplies through mud to dogs serving as sentries, the film traces the arc of these creatures' wartime service and the horrific toll it exacted. It's not a feel-good story. Rather, it's a historical reckoning with a cost we don't usually quantify.
Behind the Making of Animals in the Great War
Folco Quilici, the Italian documentary filmmaker known for his work in natural history and environmental cinema, brought his characteristic attention to overlooked subjects to this project. Released in 2015, Animals in the Great War arrived a year before the centennial flood of World War I documentaries, positioning it as part of a broader cultural moment of historical reassessment. The film draws on archival footage, period photographs, and historical records to reconstruct the lived experience of animals in the trenches—a perspective that most traditional war documentaries sidestep entirely. Quilici's approach isn't sensationalist; instead, he lets the historical record speak for itself, allowing viewers to confront the scale of animal casualties without melodrama. The documentary didn't generate major box-office returns or festival buzz in the way narrative films do, but it found its audience among history enthusiasts and those seeking alternative angles on the Great War. Movie OTT tracks where documentaries like this one are currently streaming, making it easier to discover films that challenge conventional historical narratives.
Why Animals in the Great War Stands Out in War Documentary
What's striking about this film is its refusal to treat animals as mere props in humanity's story. Instead, Quilici positions them as subjects with their own experience of war—a perspective that's both ethically important and historically revealing. The documentary doesn't shy away from the brutal realities: horses dying by the millions in artillery barrages, dogs trained to carry explosives, the psychological stress on animals forced into combat zones. Yet it's never exploitative. The film maintains a respectful tone throughout, treating its subject matter with the gravity it deserves. What makes it work is the archival material itself—grainy photographs of soldiers with their horses, film footage of supply lines, sketches made by soldiers documenting their animal companions. These aren't reconstructions; they're the actual visual record of how people lived alongside animals during four years of industrial-scale warfare. I keep coming back to how the film manages to be simultaneously educational and emotionally affecting without resorting to sentimentality. It's a delicate thing to pull off, and Quilici does it. The current IMDb rating of 5.4/10 likely reflects viewers who came expecting a different kind of documentary—perhaps one more focused on human heroism—rather than a serious historical examination of a neglected subject.
Where to Stream Animals in the Great War Online
Animals in the Great War is currently available on Netflix, making it accessible to subscribers looking for documentaries that venture beyond mainstream war narratives. At just 60 minutes, it's a manageable watch—you can fit it into an evening without the commitment of a longer series. Netflix's documentary library has grown substantially in recent years, and this film sits alongside other historical explorations that don't always make headlines. If you're browsing the platform and stumble across it, don't skip past it thinking it's going to be another standard military history lesson. The where-to-watch widget at the top of this page will show you current availability, so you can start streaming immediately. Movie OTT's streaming guides help readers find documentaries and niche content that might otherwise get buried in algorithmic recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Animals in the Great War?
Folco Quilici, an Italian documentary filmmaker, directed this 2015 film. He's known for bringing an environmental and historical perspective to his work, and that sensibility shapes how the documentary approaches its subject matter.
Q: How long is Animals in the Great War?
The documentary runs 60 minutes, making it a relatively concise exploration of a complex historical topic. That runtime allows for depth without demanding an overwhelming time commitment from viewers.
Q: What animals are featured in Animals in the Great War?
The film covers multiple species pressed into WWI service, including horses (by far the most numerous), dogs, pigeons, and other creatures used for combat support, communication, and supply transport. Each played a distinct role in the war effort.
Q: Is Animals in the Great War available to stream?
Yes, it's currently available on Netflix. You can check the where-to-watch widget on this page for the most up-to-date streaming availability across platforms.
Q: What's the historical focus of Animals in the Great War?
The documentary examines the largely untold story of animal casualties during World War I, drawing on archival footage and historical records to show how millions of creatures were deployed and the devastating toll the war took on them.
Final Thoughts on Animals in the Great War
Animals in the Great War won't be everyone's cup of tea. It's somber, historically focused, and deliberately avoids the narrative triumphalism that often surrounds war documentaries. But that's precisely why it matters. If you're interested in history that complicates easy narratives, or if you want to understand the full human and non-human cost of industrial warfare, this is worth your time. It's the kind of film that sticks with you—not because it's flashy, but because it asks you to think about a perspective we typically overlook. Streaming on Netflix makes it easy to access a piece of cinema that deserves more viewers.
