The Hunt (1997)
Directed by Niek Koppen
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Synopsis by Bhob Stewart
Over 200 UK fox-hunting associations attract some 250,000 followers, and Dutch documentary filmmaker Nick Koppen captures the cruelty of the sport in this film exposé. Koppen's crew traveled to Shropshire where a militaristic hunt master served as their guide during the popular Ludlow Hunt. Scenes include landowner negotiations, preparation of both the course and hounds, a cornered fox savagely ripped apart during a frenzied attack of dogs, and hunt supporters who evade all efforts to ban the barbarism. The film features a radio discussion to introduce facts and figures indicating that 70% to 80% of the British public agree with the position taken by the League Against Cruel Sports. Shown at the 1998 Rotterdam Film Festival.