the cove
written by mark monroe
directed by louie psihoyos
a film uncovering the murky bloody waters in a cove in taijii, japan, a town that prides itself on whale love. and to the normal person, upon driving into the town, the statues and mosaics and billboards demonstrating happy whales would cement that idea.
nothing could be farther from the truth.
heavy-laden with guilt for years, ric o'barry, a recognized american in taijii, took it upon himself to free dolphins held in captivity, and by accident, turned into a dolphin activist. the american fascination with dolphins began in the 1960s when o'barry captured five dolphins to play flipper and he is bound and determined to end what he started.
the operation is suspenseful, real, scary, and upsetting: the way the fishermen herded the dolphins by inserting a pole into the water and pounding it with a hammer scaring them into nets; the way the animal trainers waded into the water and picked their favourites to ship off around the world for public viewing; the way the fishermen then turn the remaining dolphins into lunch meat which is poisonous because it's ruined with high levels of mercury.
i cried. and i recommend it.
