STILL LIFE WITH ANIMATED DOGS traces the filmmaker's tumultuous life from Stalinist Czechoslovakia to the United States as seen through his relationships with his dogs. It is Fierlinger's loyalty and caring for his dog that sustains him even in an atmosphere of oppression and suspicion. Each dog serves as a marker of its master's personal growth from a misanthrope to an artist who appreciates the divine powers of nature. 2001 PEABODY AWARD