Skip Channel4 main Navigation
Mark Dolan Interview
New Series | Tall Women | Money | Fat Pets
In amongst programmes about the tallest, smallest and hairiest people, you've also made one about the world's fattest pet. That would seem to be the odd one out.
At first glance, it doesn't fit with the theme of the series, which is learning about the human condition and how society treats people who are different. However, having met the owners of these pets, I've discovered that if you allow your dog to become morbidly obese, or you have a preoccupation with tall dogs, then it speaks volumes about the owner. And, of course, this is really a film about the owners.
At first glance, it doesn't fit with the theme of the series, which is learning about the human condition and how society treats people who are different. However, having met the owners of these pets, I've discovered that if you allow your dog to become morbidly obese, or you have a preoccupation with tall dogs, then it speaks volumes about the owner. And, of course, this is really a film about the owners.
Were they cruel?
I encountered a huge amount of stupidity and ignorance from the owners of very fat animals, but not cruelty. It was about the wrong type of food and a sedentary lifestyle, and a misguided expression of love. I didn't meet any owner whose animal was fat because they were cruel. But it is a cruel state for an animal to get into.
I encountered a huge amount of stupidity and ignorance from the owners of very fat animals, but not cruelty. It was about the wrong type of food and a sedentary lifestyle, and a misguided expression of love. I didn't meet any owner whose animal was fat because they were cruel. But it is a cruel state for an animal to get into.
The series has taken you to some far-flung places, hasn't it?
Yeah, we were travelling off-and-on for three months. It's very selfish of all these extraordinary people to live in such far-flung places. It would’ve been so much easier to make the series if they all lived in Soho. I could've gone for lunch at The Ivy with the world's tallest woman. But one of the extraordinary parts of this experience has been the places it has taken me to. I've been to Inner Mongolia, which was about -25 degrees outside during the day, incredibly barren and dramatic. It was a great privilege to go to these places you wouldn’t normally visit. I've seen people living in major cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei, but also very basic rural communities. I've seen all aspects of how the human body can manifest itself, but also all contexts of wealth and social position and environment.
Yeah, we were travelling off-and-on for three months. It's very selfish of all these extraordinary people to live in such far-flung places. It would’ve been so much easier to make the series if they all lived in Soho. I could've gone for lunch at The Ivy with the world's tallest woman. But one of the extraordinary parts of this experience has been the places it has taken me to. I've been to Inner Mongolia, which was about -25 degrees outside during the day, incredibly barren and dramatic. It was a great privilege to go to these places you wouldn’t normally visit. I've seen people living in major cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei, but also very basic rural communities. I've seen all aspects of how the human body can manifest itself, but also all contexts of wealth and social position and environment.
Have you learned a specific lesson about human beings from all of this?
I think it showed me that if you're that unusual physically, then you do have a unique life-experience. I found the people I met to be stronger and more inspirational figures than the rest of us. They all have a choice - either to shut themselves away and hide from the world, or to try to lead a normal life. And all of the people I have met have taken that option, which tells me they have a unique strength, a unique resourcefulness, a unique courage which you won't find elsewhere.
I think it showed me that if you're that unusual physically, then you do have a unique life-experience. I found the people I met to be stronger and more inspirational figures than the rest of us. They all have a choice - either to shut themselves away and hide from the world, or to try to lead a normal life. And all of the people I have met have taken that option, which tells me they have a unique strength, a unique resourcefulness, a unique courage which you won't find elsewhere.
