This documentary about the pet cemetery business was what really put Errol Morris on the map as an interesting filmmaker to watch. Morris's documentaries usually focus on the oddball or eccentric or just plain weird in people.
Gates of Heaven started as a documentary after Morris read a news story about a pet cemetery that was being relocated. Sensing there was a film in this story he raised the money and then got interviews with the people involved. Morris spoke with the owner of the failed pet cemetery and the owners of the pet cemetery that the deceased pets had been moved to. The result were filmed interviews that for the most part just focused on the interviewee with the camera locked down. It certainly gave the film an unusual look and pace.
I had seen this film several years ago and watching these people being interviewed at the time I found it very easy to sneer and develop a real patronizing attitude about their lives. Now watching it again I find that I am a lot more sympathetic. The love and grief that they feel for their deceased pets is actually very genuine and touching. After all who loves you more unconditionally than your pet.
Don't get me wrong there's still plenty of quirk and weirdness going on throughout the film. In the end it's just people being people. Gates of Heaven is a very entertaining documentary.
The film runs 83 minutes.
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