This is great educative documentary that covers everything from how milk is made these days (from small to big-scale production but with a focus on the major industries) to the impact the industry has on farmers, invironment and people's perception of milk. It makes you think twice of your own consumption and shows a face of milk production rather covered up from the everyday consumer. Take the chance and educate yourself if you're a milk-drinker!
6 Reviews
Barely enough for 90 minutes
Horst_In_Translation14 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Das System Milch" is a German/Italian co-production and the latter may have to do with the fact that writer and director Andreas Pichler as born in Italy despite the vast majority of films being in the German language. So is this one here, even if it includes many languages really because they filmed in many different countries such as Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands and even outside of Europe I believe. The language Wolof I am not familiar with at all. Anyway, as for the basics: This one runs for 1.5 hours approximately, slightly under I believe and as the title gives away there is major focus on milk, in all its forms, but most of all as the white liquid. I personally preferred the first half here. It was insightful enough for me and also sometimes pretty sad and shocking like when wwe find out how they immediately kill cowws/calves as soon as they do not offer an economic advantage anymore. Very questionable of course, but then again you can also understand the people because being a dairy farmer these days is a true challenge and really a task that fills probably your every single day from morning until afternoon. They are also having a hard time because frequently the industry does not offer them fair amounts of money that are appropriate given the effort and energy they put into their business. And the money of course. Still this film, at least during the first 45 minutes, managed to make me think about going vegan (and not just vegetarian) at some point because it is difficult to stomach what we find out here and there during this movie. The only thing I can think of to defend these processes is that the animals would not even have lived without the existence of this industry. But the mere thought of how the cowws are constantly pregnant because otherwise they would not be able to provide milk is a pretty gruesome one. They sure are exploited. This is also one of the better quotes and almost the only quote I found interesting when it comes to these moments and scenes when the filmmaker here talked about his own past and experiences. I honestly did not like his narration and also I did not like how he made his life a part of this movie. It wasn't working well and he should have kept all the action away from him because this film is at its most effective when he just interviews people directly involved in the industry.
This is mostly the first half. The second half is clearly an attempt by the filmmaker (Pichler, I guess he is from South Tyrol) to try to come up with better ways and solutions, but I must say it never really works to an extent I wanted it to work. the ideas are solid overall I suppose, but the elaboration on them in detail was just never truly fulfilling or in a way where these ideas and as a consequence also the movie truly could have made a difference. Basically the reason why I still decided to give this film 3 stars out of 5 and a positive recommendation is all that is included in the first half and also that the subject is truly important. Funnily enough not too long ago somebody said to me that it is not too bad to drink less milk because milk exists to get strength into calves, young bulls and cows, and not into humans. So I can see why the general idea that milk is not necessarily something positive makes sense. It's not to be avoided at all costs either though, or if it is, then only because of how it is produced. I talked about that earlier. There are also inclusions of course of products that are made from milk like yogurt and there are definitely more than enough. Or for example I also learned something new here and there like that apparently milk powder is something elderly people like to buy a lot. I don't really like the idea of milk in powder form, it sounds really strange, but then again I have never tried it and I also think it is more common in other countries, other continents even and not here in Germany. At least I rarely see it here. Then there are also inclusions that everybody knows like how milk includes a great deal of calcium, which is good for the bones etc. Overall, I think this film is wworth seeing. Maybe it is also partially my fault that I lost a bit interest here in the second 45 minutes and not (only) the filmmaker's. However, a great movie it is not. No Herzog, no Wagenhofer, just Pichler. And as the latter has been making (documentary) films since the turn of the new millennium, the outcome is even slightly disappointing perhaps given his experience and how prolific he has been. Still good enough for a positive recommendation like I said. Every film, unless executed really poorly, deserves to be seen if it tells us about animals and/or annimal abuse, even if it is somewhat legal. Or especially because it is legal and we learn about how it shouldn't be. Then again, this is probably once more just me. So I'll finish now and say go watch this one if you have a little interest in subjects like nutrition, agriculture and vegetarianism/veganism. Thumbs up.
This is mostly the first half. The second half is clearly an attempt by the filmmaker (Pichler, I guess he is from South Tyrol) to try to come up with better ways and solutions, but I must say it never really works to an extent I wanted it to work. the ideas are solid overall I suppose, but the elaboration on them in detail was just never truly fulfilling or in a way where these ideas and as a consequence also the movie truly could have made a difference. Basically the reason why I still decided to give this film 3 stars out of 5 and a positive recommendation is all that is included in the first half and also that the subject is truly important. Funnily enough not too long ago somebody said to me that it is not too bad to drink less milk because milk exists to get strength into calves, young bulls and cows, and not into humans. So I can see why the general idea that milk is not necessarily something positive makes sense. It's not to be avoided at all costs either though, or if it is, then only because of how it is produced. I talked about that earlier. There are also inclusions of course of products that are made from milk like yogurt and there are definitely more than enough. Or for example I also learned something new here and there like that apparently milk powder is something elderly people like to buy a lot. I don't really like the idea of milk in powder form, it sounds really strange, but then again I have never tried it and I also think it is more common in other countries, other continents even and not here in Germany. At least I rarely see it here. Then there are also inclusions that everybody knows like how milk includes a great deal of calcium, which is good for the bones etc. Overall, I think this film is wworth seeing. Maybe it is also partially my fault that I lost a bit interest here in the second 45 minutes and not (only) the filmmaker's. However, a great movie it is not. No Herzog, no Wagenhofer, just Pichler. And as the latter has been making (documentary) films since the turn of the new millennium, the outcome is even slightly disappointing perhaps given his experience and how prolific he has been. Still good enough for a positive recommendation like I said. Every film, unless executed really poorly, deserves to be seen if it tells us about animals and/or annimal abuse, even if it is somewhat legal. Or especially because it is legal and we learn about how it shouldn't be. Then again, this is probably once more just me. So I'll finish now and say go watch this one if you have a little interest in subjects like nutrition, agriculture and vegetarianism/veganism. Thumbs up.
Fantastic documentary
indiastarker19 November 2019
Well Balanced, Clear, and Helpful
tadmsimmons1 July 2021
This is a nice progressive march through the dairy industry in Europe and beyond. It lays out a balance between the traditional, organic farmers and the industrial automated farms both large and small. Sometimes funny and sometimes appalling, it sheds light on all types of farmers through ongoing dialog with some very open and willing farmers. I was impressed with the candor with which the farmers shared how they do what they do. We got an intimate look at their operations--again, several very different ones--and got to know how they feel about their operations and the industry as a whole.
It wends its way back and forth through the dairy product, the feed, the distribution, the politics, and the economics of importing feed and exporting milk products and technology.
Bringing in Africa and China as emerging consumer economies impresses us that there are forces in this industry that are unique and really big (although not all understood this) and how that choice affects the local ecology, our personal health and even something as intangible yet critically important as climate change.
I found it quite interesting and well done.
It wends its way back and forth through the dairy product, the feed, the distribution, the politics, and the economics of importing feed and exporting milk products and technology.
Bringing in Africa and China as emerging consumer economies impresses us that there are forces in this industry that are unique and really big (although not all understood this) and how that choice affects the local ecology, our personal health and even something as intangible yet critically important as climate change.
I found it quite interesting and well done.
Poor man's Herzog, leider
EnoVarma30 January 2018
The twisted, unnnatural reality of the dairy industry is an important topic. It's also deserving of a better film than this.
On the surface, Das System Milch looks like a movie. But despite of nice color grading, professional editing and all around sleekness, the movie lacks cinematic soul. Instead Andreas Pichler offers a pamphlet, a text with some images. He doesn't connect with any of the people he interviews. Never mind the cows.
In the international cut, Pichler makes a grave mistake by serving as narrator. His heavy accent makes him sound like a humourless Werner Herzog. This is further accentuated by Pichler's own presence in the movie. Which lacks Herzog's originality.
Das Milch System is a frustrating experience, to the point where I decided to leave the theater about half an hour early. Even though I agreed with Pichler's view, the movie felt like propaganda. And although it's at times hard to watch, Pichler's prettified pictures and constant use of illustrative music belie the harsh reality.
I'd rather read a book.
On the surface, Das System Milch looks like a movie. But despite of nice color grading, professional editing and all around sleekness, the movie lacks cinematic soul. Instead Andreas Pichler offers a pamphlet, a text with some images. He doesn't connect with any of the people he interviews. Never mind the cows.
In the international cut, Pichler makes a grave mistake by serving as narrator. His heavy accent makes him sound like a humourless Werner Herzog. This is further accentuated by Pichler's own presence in the movie. Which lacks Herzog's originality.
Das Milch System is a frustrating experience, to the point where I decided to leave the theater about half an hour early. Even though I agreed with Pichler's view, the movie felt like propaganda. And although it's at times hard to watch, Pichler's prettified pictures and constant use of illustrative music belie the harsh reality.
I'd rather read a book.
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