Seafaring documentaries always interest me because of the massive amount of interesting information they impart on me as well as the importance they can have on our ecosystem as well as the creatures living within the oceanic ecosystem (if we respond to them). One documentary that I was looking forward to seeing was Gabriela Cowperwaithe’s Blackfish, a film about Orcas (killer whales) that are held in captivity, the dangers they pose to the trainers who work with them, and the illusion that everything going on in the tank and the park is ok despite the opposite being true. Most notably, the film focuses on the capture and transformation of SeaWorld’s largest orca, Tilikum, who is responsible for killing multiple trainers even though this mammal, and all Orcas in general, are majestic, intelligent and docile beings (towards humans) that shouldn’t performing in small tanks but rather living freely in the wild.
Blackfish is built around talking heads, most of whom are former SeaWorld trainers that have worked with Orcas, as well neurologists, past owners of Tilikum who likely caused his mental problems, a member of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), a few witness testimonials and a SeaWorld trainer who doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with the Orcas. Cut in between or over the talking heads is vintage footage of SeaWorld videos, videos of the attacks and deaths of the Orcas and trainers, footage of Orcas in the wild and some videos of when they were initially captured (which is one of the more depressing scenes in the film).
Unlike The Cove which strikes an extremely and unnerving emotional chord due to the power and magnitude of the situation in Japan, Blackfish manages to get pretty deep but doesn’t pack the same emotional punch. That being said, the film does a great job of making you aware of the dangerous situation the trainers are in, how miserable life for an Orca in captivity can be and is, and what is trying to be done to fix this problem. As for the emotional part, the videos of some of the attacks can be shocking but for me, the most upsetting moment was when SeaWorld took away one of the mother whales’ baby after the two were inseparable. There is footage of the whale making long, crying noises as she tries to contact her kin. The only way to compare the situation is if you could imagine your child being kidnapped because, with the level of intelligence and emotional stimulation these whales have, that’s exactly how it would feel.
The most amazing, and disturbing, revelation the film has outside of explaining the psychosis that develops while the Orcas are in these tanks is that SeaWorld manages to convince the public and the media that every time there is a death or injury it’s the trainers fault, not the whales, even though the evidence is pretty clear especially when looking at the history of attacks/injuries associated with the same whale(s). The main reason Tilikum hasn’t been released, besides being worth millions of dollars, is because of his semen. He is the male SeaWorld uses to breed all the females in their parks which is obviously how they can keep this operation going.
This film clearly had an agenda and, for the most part, it’s very one sided. There is no public governmental debate, only courtroom cases which people forget about until another “accident” happens and the media goes crazy over the subject once again. Furthermore, SeaWorld declined to be interviewed for the film and so the only testimony we get from them are lines from a transcript from when they spoke in court.
Blackfish explores the history of the killer whales, their level of intelligence and communication abilities, how each family of Orcas is culturally different than another groups and how, in nature, there hasn’t been many, if any, recorded or known instances of Killer Whales attacking humans but in captivity there have been 70+ accidents recorded. By the time the film ends it makes complete sense why Tilikum is responsible for several deaths and injuries. If you were an 8,000 pound animal living in a small walled off space and were bullied and attacked by other whales in addition to being isolated and starved from time to time you would lash out too since there is no other way to express your frustration.
Overall, Blackfish clearly makes its point that Orcas shouldn’t be kept in small park tanks and, rather, they should be released back into the wild to rejoin their families or at least have the opportunity to live their life happy rather than depressed doing the same things every day, especially after 20+ years of service. It also makes sure that you know how much spin SeaWorld puts on their news releases and how they constantly misinform the public when they can, like telling SeaWorld patrons incorrect facts about the lifespan of Orcas and why the males dorsal fins fall over even though that rarely happens in the wild. Though not necessarily very engaging, it’s still a fascinating documentary that must be seen by anyone who loves these beautiful creatures.
Rating: A compelling, disturbing and enlightening documentary that’ll make you think twice about supporting SeaWorld (6.9/10)
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