Llama Nation

Playing nicely to animal-lovers of all ages, filmmaker Tanner Shinnick entertainingly profiles a small herd of Americans who have taken up the owning and breeding of llamas. The South American camelids were a rarity only a generation ago, when the original "llama mama" Tracy Pearson and her husband Jack began raising and selling show-quality llamas at their Mississippi homestead (viewers will see a llama live birth). Jannessa and Hunter are two teenage girls at the apex of the competitive-llama subculture, whose friendship suffers over time and tournaments. Ron is an eccentric Georgia mayor who rides in a llama-driven cart. And Rojo is Portland's famous "kissing llama," who is certified as a therapy animal. Rojo seems to be an unperturbed and placid animal, like most of the llamas shown here—who appear to be at thoughtful ease with all of the quirky doting humans. And in one fun training sequence, the llamas go through obstacle courses featuring Simpsons characters. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady)