Chicken People * * * *

Chicken People is a funny, endearing little documentary that is on limited release.  

It’s about “chicken tragics” I suppose might be the right term. Some people can get into chooks the way others can get into cars, sports, religion or other broadly accepted obsessions.

Cabaret singer Brian with
one of his many hot chicks

Selecting five separate cases they follow them through to the National Poultry Show.  Hopefully one of the five will be the winner or at least get a Guernsey for one of the breeds - there are a lot of different types of chooks out there.

There is no presenter in this documentary.  The subjects talk directly to the camera about their obsession, how they got started, and how fulfilling it is.  They have quite diverse backgrounds, from cabaret singer to race car engine constructor, to home keepers. Their enthusiasm is so contagious. after a while you actually start to get it Though I do not think I could ever get to the stage where I’d be putting them in little nappies so they can run around the house - yes this happens - as do many other funny situations in this charmingly eccentric film. But as a visitor to this world of chook lovers, Director Nicole Lucas Haimes always gives these folk the respect they deserve. 

In some ways they are enviable for being so lovingly bonded to their chickens, and to one another as chicken people.  Their belief that keeping chickens brings out the best in you is quite persuasive.  (Except, of course, if you are running a battery-hen farm; that certainly won't bring out the best in you!).