Thursday, November 7, 2013
Blackfish (2013)
Cast:
Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg, Dean Gomersall
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Synopsis: Blackfish is an
independent film that follows the unique and life threatening behavioral
patterns of whales held in captivity. Notorious tourist attraction and globally
recognized venue, SeaWorld, has used their leverage as a fortune 500 company to
cover up the truth of the devastating and shocking realities comparing the
natural habitat to the captive areas at sea parks.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4/5
Review:
Gabriela Coperthwaite brings viewers and whale lovers the
captivating story of Tilikum, the orca whale that has been on display at Sea
World San Diego for over two decades. We experience heartache, loss, confusion,
and concern for these creatures as the story unfolds.
The film
opens to an incredibly sad story of the whales held in captivity that are
followed in the film and have stories similar to Tilikum. Trainers and
behavioral scientists talk about the patterns of a whale’s life that live in
the big blue, in freedom. The story immediately breaks hearts as we observe the
strong relational and family like creatures that these orcas truly are.
This film
served as sorrowful entertainment with the trainer interviews, intense footage,
and historical background on the animals. While the film is enticing, it has
strong build ups and turns to the truth that has been covered up for decades.
Trainers tell their disturbing stories of intimacy, fright, and love for
Tilikum, and we begin to feel more emotion towards the orca.
When Dawn
Branchea’s life was taken in 2010, Tilikum made headlines. But what most news
broadcast viewers didn’t know was that this was the 3rd life that
Tilikum had taken.
After
declining to be a part of the film numerous times, it is obvious the way that
the film is headed early on. SeaWorld has continuously covered up the dramatic
events that involve Tilikum and his offspring.
With Tilikum
as a clearly a moneymaker, bringing in ticket sales year round, their lack of
presence is not surprising. Blackfish makes clear jabs at SeaWorld’s ignorance
to the subject and how their public relations mops up every injury or death and
places blame on the victim, not the actual killer.
The film
reveals that Tilikum has been kept only for one sole purpose, his semen.
However, the film goes even further and interviews trainers, scientists,
behavioral scientists, and psychologists, who all agree that this is not just
Tilikum and his genetic line are increasingly aggressive, but all orca whales
held in captivity hold similar behavioral patterns.
The
fascinating and heart-wrenching story of these whales is made with clear concise
notions from the director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite. And although the film is
concentrated on one side, there are many other stories about whales held in
captivity that the film did not even address.
Despite the
films ability to provide commentary for both sides of the argument, this film
is worth the watch, making viewers more aware of the tragedy and growing hearts
for the freedom of the whales.
By Emily
Hoogenboom
This film sounds interesting and based off this review something I'd like to see. I grew up going to SeaWorld and I never thought anything of it. Like most kids, I thought the whale show was the best part of the day. Now that I'm older, I'm a little more aware of the sinister parts of life. I guess that's part of growing up, right?
ReplyDeleteI am definitely interested in seeing the film. I had heard a lot of talk about it before it premiered at various festival across the country. It would be interesting to hear the counter arguments to Coperthwaite's portrayal of Sea World. I wonder if Sea World's sales will be affected by the effectiveness of the documentary.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this before but it sound like an interesting movie which can uncover many problems we would not even think to address. Without seeing the film, the review was very informative of the main points of the movie and it makes me want to see it as. like the last comment that Sofia made, I would wonder what the Sea World people would say about this as well.
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