Claire Thompson
The 2000 animated comedy film *Chicken Run* has been interpreted by some as an allegory for the Holocaust. The film centres on a group of chickens who see an American rooster as their only hope to escape a farm when their owners want to turn them into chicken pies. The chicken coops appear to be modelled after a concentration camp, with rows of identical wooden houses surrounded by barbed wire fences, guard towers, and aggressive dogs. The chickens are a subclass serving the human Tweedys, who run the farm. Mrs. Tweedy is the malicious, conniving instigator, while her husband, Mr. Tweedy, is more dim-witted and follows her lead. The film also includes smaller references, such as Mr. Tweedy's Hitler-esque combover and the use of heavy black boots, which have been associated with skinheads and fascists. While *Chicken Run* is not intended to teach the history of the Holocaust, some believe it could be a tool to introduce young students to concepts like concentration camps and armed resistance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film name | Chicken Run |
| Year of release | 2000 |
| Film type | Animated adventure comedy |
| Directors | Peter Lord and Nick Park |
| Writers | Karey Kirkpatrick |
| Producers | Pathé and Aardman Features in partnership with DreamWorks Animation |
| Voice cast | Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Tony Haygarth, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Lynn Ferguson, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, and Benjamin Whitrow |
| Based on | The Holocaust |
| Similarities with the Holocaust | The chicken coops appear to be modeled after a concentration camp, with rows upon rows of identical wooden houses crammed full of chickens. Guard towers stand around the (chicken) wire fence. The chickens are a “subclass” being used to serve the human Tweedys who run the farm. |
| Other themes | Feminism, revolution, Marxism, veganism, and fascism |
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What You'll Learn
The film's Holocaust iconography
The stop-motion animated film Chicken Run (2000) has been interpreted by some viewers as an allegory for the Holocaust. The film centres on a group of anthropomorphic chickens who see an American rooster named Rocky Rhodes as their only hope to escape the farm when their owners want to turn them into chicken pies.
The film has been noted for its depiction of feminism, revolution, Marxism, veganism, and fascism. The chicken coops have been likened to concentration camps, with rows of identical wooden houses for the chickens, surrounded by a wire fence and guard towers. The chickens are a "subclass" being used to serve the human Tweedys who run the farm. Mr. Tweedy sports a Hitler-esque combover hairdo, and Mrs. Tweedy is the malicious, conniving instigator and brains behind running the chicken coop. The use of aggressive dogs as guard animals and the repeated close-ups of Mrs. Tweedy's heavy black boots have also been interpreted as invoking Holocaust imagery.
The film also draws comparisons to The Great Escape (1963), a film about Allied soldiers kept in German prisoner-of-war (POW) camps during World War II. Chicken Run parodies famous scenes from the film and even has a similar score. The chickens in Chicken Run are shown to be accountable for the number of eggs they lay daily, which has been likened to the treatment of prisoners in POW camps. The way the chickens capture the farmer at the end and revert from doing normal chicken things when the farmer arrives has also been compared to the escape of Jews from a concentration camp in real life.
The film's World War II aesthetic and explicit references to the war, such as Fowler's (Benjamin Whitrow) stories about his days in the RAF, further contribute to the interpretation of the film as engaging with Holocaust iconography.
While some viewers have interpreted Chicken Run as an allegory for the Holocaust, others have dismissed this idea, seeing it simply as a funny and entertaining film.
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Parallels with 'The Great Escape'
The 2000 animated film Chicken Run has been interpreted by some as an allegory for the Holocaust. The film centres on a group of British chickens who must escape a farm when their owners, the evil Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy, plan to turn them into chicken pies. The chickens are a "subclass" being used to serve their human captors, and the chicken coops appear to be modelled after concentration camps, with guard towers and a wire fence.
Chicken Run has been described as a parody of the 1963 film "The Great Escape", which is about Allied soldiers kept in German prisoner-of-war (POW) camps during World War II. The film has famous scenes that are parodied by the chickens, and the score music is similar.
There are several specific parallels that can be drawn between Chicken Run and The Great Escape. Firstly, both films feature imprisoned protagonists who are seeking to escape their captors. In Chicken Run, the chickens are trying to escape the Tweedys' farm, while in The Great Escape, the Allied soldiers are trying to break out of a German POW camp.
Secondly, both films involve a character who is repeatedly placed in solitary confinement. In Chicken Run, Ginger is repeatedly put in "the coal shed" as punishment for her escape attempts, mirroring the character of Hilts in The Great Escape, who is famous for throwing a ball against a wall to pass the time in solitary confinement.
Additionally, both films feature a brash American character among a group of Brits. In Chicken Run, Rocky the American rooster is the chickens' only hope for escape, but he arrives late, just like America's late entry into World War I and the Holocaust. In The Great Escape, Steve McQueen plays an American soldier named Hilts, who is also a central character.
Finally, both films involve a dramatic escape sequence. In Chicken Run, the chickens escape by flying over the fence, while in The Great Escape, the soldiers escape through a tunnel. While the ending of The Great Escape is bittersweet, with some soldiers being recaptured, the ending of Chicken Run is happier, as all the chickens escape and capture the farmer.
In conclusion, while Chicken Run is primarily a comedy film for children, it does draw several parallels to The Great Escape, a film set during World War II. These parallels, along with other Holocaust iconography in the film, have led some viewers to interpret Chicken Run as an allegory for the Holocaust.
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The chicken coop as a concentration camp
The 2000 animated comedy film "Chicken Run" has been interpreted by some as an allegory for the Holocaust. This interpretation is based on several aspects of the film's narrative and visual design. One of the most prominent comparisons is between the chicken coop and a concentration camp.
The physical design of the chicken coop in "Chicken Run" bears a striking resemblance to depictions of concentration camps. It features rows of identical, cramped wooden houses surrounded by barbed wire fencing and guard towers. This imagery is intentionally evocative of the harsh and oppressive nature of concentration camps.
The chickens in the film are not just treated as livestock but are shown as a subjugated subclass. They are accountable for the number of eggs they lay, and those that are unable to produce are beheaded, reflecting the dehumanization and cruel treatment endured by prisoners in concentration camps. The film's antagonists, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy, can be seen as stand-ins for Nazi figures, with Mrs. Tweedy in particular embodying the role of a malicious and conniving instigator.
The film also incorporates smaller details that invoke Holocaust imagery. For example, Mr. Tweedy's comb-over hairstyle has been likened to Hitler's hairstyle, and the use of aggressive dogs as guard animals echoes the use of attack dogs by Nazis. The heavy black boots worn by Mrs. Tweedy carry associations with skinheads and fascists. These visual cues, combined with the setting of the chicken coop, contribute to the interpretation of the film as an allegory for the Holocaust.
While some viewers have proposed this interpretation, others have disagreed. Some have suggested that the film is primarily a parody of "The Great Escape," a 1963 film about Allied soldiers in a German prisoner-of-war camp. The film's directors, Peter Lord and Nick Park, have not explicitly confirmed or denied the Holocaust interpretation, leaving it open to audience interpretation.
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The chickens as a persecuted subclass
The chickens in the film "Chicken Run" are a persecuted subclass. The film is a parody of "The Great Escape", a 1963 film about Allied soldiers kept in German prisoner-of-war (POW) camps. The chicken coops are modelled after concentration camps, with rows of identical wooden houses, surrounded by wire fencing and guard towers. The chickens are not just enemies of their captors, as in a POW analogy, but a subclass serving the human Tweedys who run the farm.
The film has been described as a "remarkable tool" to introduce young students to ideas such as concentration camps and armed resistance in the Holocaust. The chickens are trying to escape being eaten, and the farmers are shown to behead chickens who are incapable of producing eggs. The farmers' decision to kill the chickens and make chicken pies has been likened to the Holocaust, where Nazis killed Jews and other minorities. The film's ""final solution" is to kill all the chickens, echoing the Nazis' Final Solution to kill all Jews.
The film contains several Holocaust iconography references, such as Mr. Tweedy's Hitler-esque combover and Mrs. Tweedy's heavy black boots, which have been associated with skinheads and fascists. The use of aggressive dogs as guard animals also invokes the Holocaust. The chickens' capture of the farmer and their reversion to normal chicken behaviour when the farmer arrives have been compared to the escape of Jews from Sobibor.
The film also explores themes of feminism, revolution, Marxism, veganism, and fascism. The stereotypical "woman's work" of the female chickens, such as sewing and knitting, is crucial to their escape, showcasing the power of femininity. The film's World War II aesthetic, including references to the RAF, adds a layer of depth and stakes to the story, making it more than just an animal romp.
The chickens' struggle for freedom and their eventual escape can be seen as a metaphor for the yearning for freedom experienced by persecuted groups, including Jews during the Holocaust.
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The film's female-led cast
While the movie "Chicken Run" has been likened to an allegory for the Holocaust, with its World War II aesthetic and references to concentration camps, the film has also been noted for its female-led cast. The movie has been described as feminist, with the "stereotypical 'woman's work'" of the female chickens being crucial to their escape attempts and the revolution.
The film stars the voices of Julia Sawalha as Ginger, the leader of the chickens who is determined to escape the farm, and Mel Gibson as Rocky, the American rooster who aids in their escape. Other notable female voice actors include Miranda Richardson, Lynn Ferguson, and Imelda Staunton, who play hens determined to escape their fate as chicken pies.
The female characters in "Chicken Run" are portrayed as strong and resourceful, using their sewing and knitting skills to construct an escape mechanism. This subversion of gender norms, with the female characters taking on leadership roles and engaging in typically masculine behaviour, has been praised as a positive representation of feminism in film.
Overall, the female-led cast of "Chicken Run" has been a significant aspect of the film's impact and reception, offering a powerful portrayal of female strength, ingenuity, and solidarity in the face of adversity.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but many people have drawn comparisons between the movie and the Holocaust. The movie is set in a World War II-era prisoner of war camp, which shares similarities with concentration camps.
The chicken coops in the movie appear to be modelled after concentration camps, with rows of identical wooden houses, guard towers, and barbed wire fences. The chickens are treated as a "subclass" and are being used to serve the human Tweedys, who run the farm.
Some people have pointed out smaller images that invoke the Holocaust, such as Mr. Tweedy's Hitler-esque combover and the use of aggressive dogs as guard animals. The repeated close-ups of Mrs. Tweedy's heavy black boots have also been associated with skinheads and fascists.
Yes, despite being an animated children's movie, Chicken Run has some dark themes and imagery. A chicken is killed in the opening scene, and the farmers are shown to behead chickens who are incapable of producing eggs. The movie has also been noted for its depiction of feminism, revolution, Marxism, veganism, and fascism.
It is unclear if the creators of Chicken Run intended for it to be a direct Holocaust allegory. However, the movie has been praised for its ability to appeal to both children and adults, with deeper underlying meanings that may only be evident to older viewers.
