briefly noted

The latest film to stir my inner activist is The Cove, a film that once again proves documentaries can be informative, artistic and suspenseful while changing minds and stirring social change. It’s also a film that could only be made, and made well, by a team so driven by their mission to expose the reality and global impact of the murderous activities that kill 23,000 dolphins each year in a small cove in Taiji, Japan.

This film has it all including political corruption, cover-ups, exploitation and at the center of it all are the innocent dolphins that are captured and trained for entertainment, but why are they being killed? The Japanese fisherman and Japan’s representative of the International Whaling Commission would like us all to believe it’s a cultural thing, but if so why are they so desperate to shield anyone with a camera? It doesn’t make sense.

It’s revealed that one of the main suppliers to marine-themed parks like Sea World is a small little town in Japan called Taiji where from March to September dolphins are captured so trainers can pick the next “Flipper.” And the rest?  Killed, but not for food. Dolphin meat has dangerously high mercury levels, so high it could easily deform a child while in the womb. The fisherman would like the world to think that it’s a cultural practice to eat dolphin, but as the film reveals, most of Japan does not eat dolphin nor do they think it’s a good idea to do so. In fact, dolphin meat is often sold as whale meat because the Japanese people know mercury is a problem, which in itself is a whole other messed up issue. The fisherman and government continue to kill dolphins for money and to protect their own livelihood and political interests.

The Cove features many interviews with Ric O’Barry, Flipper’s trainer from the popular TV show, who has spent the past 35 years of his life trying to deconstruct the industry he was partially responsible for creating. He along with the Oceanic Preservation Society put together a crack team that uses old hollywood tricks and secret agent tactics to get to the place they need to film to expose the truth about what really happens in this cove. It’s fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time.

I left the theater thinking, “what can I do?” Well, I checked out the film’s site and there are a few things such as petitioning President Obama and voicing my concern, which can be done here. I also am making a pledge not to see dolphin shows. I know, it’s fun, but just knowing the industry behind it is a dealbreaker for me. But, really the best thing I can do for this cause is urging you all to see this film. It really opened up my eyes to a horrible practice that will severely impact our oceans.