Fascinating. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Shocking. Funny. Horrifying. Life-changing. Exhilarating. Astonishing. Scary. Compelling. Passionate. These are some of the words that can be used to describe "The Cove" - a film destined to make history, and coming this weekend to a theater near you.
Save The Waves first learned of this film last year while we were in Chile at the International Whaling Commission meetings. Our surfer friend and activist Dave Rastovich was working closely with the filmmakers to expose a bloody secret in Japan: the capture and needless slaughter of thousands of dolphins in a tiny cove in Taiji, Japan, where local fishermen and the government hide from public viewing a yearly ritual designed to capture and sell dolphins to the lucrative captive dolphin market.
"The Cove" is a touching and incredibly true story about an unlikely group of professional divers, filmmakers, scientists, ex-military and pirates who came together with famed dolphin activist and former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry to film and expose the tragic dolphin capture and slaughter in Taiji. The breath-taking adventures that the filmmakers go through to make this film are faithfully captured in what is perhaps the best documentary style ever: hidden cameras, military-grade surveillance gear, infrared and night-vision images, aerial and underwater footage and traditional interview material are all woven seamlessly together into a film that will make headlines and force controversy worldwide. The filmmakers and producers risked severe harassment, arrest and prison time to shoot this film in Japan. The subject matter is delicate and shocking and some images may not be appropriate for children under 13 (hence the PG-13 rating).
"The Cove" begins with the story of how former "Flipper" TV series dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry changed his life and began adamantly opposing dolphin captivity due to inhumane living conditions and increasingly desperate captive dolphins. The story and footage of dolphins and their advanced intelligence is moving - it convincingly shows how self-aware and sensitive dolphins are, and the underwater images of them living and playing in their ocean element is truly amazing. O'Barry then travels to Taiji to expose the secret industry that captures the majority of dolphins used worldwide in amusement parks and "swim-with-dolphins" programs. The film also shows the shocking truth of what happens to the dolphins that are not chosen for captivity due to their size or other imperfections. However, local fishermen and government officials make it very difficult for O'Barry and the filmmaking team, led by director Louie Psihoyos, to complete their task. They suffer innumerable dangers in order to get the story, and it leaves viewers on the edge of their seats!
This is film as activism: "The Cove" will change your life, and it should succeed at stopping the secretive and tragic Taiji dolphin capture program. You MUST see this film! (review by Josh Berry)
"The Cove" releases in New York and Los Angeles on July 31 and in wide US and Canada release on August 7. Australia release on August 20. Find theaters and show times of "The Cove" here.
Watch "The Cove" movie trailer here.
Read more reviews of "The Cove" here.
Learn how to help stop dolphin slaughter in Taiji now at www.takepart.com/thecove
Read here about Save The Waves' first adventure with "The Cove" in January 2009 at Sundance, where the film overwhelmingly won Audience Award.
Visit "The Cove" website at www.thecovemovie.com
All photos courtesy of "The Cove" movie.
Top photo: World Champion freediver and "The Cove" adventurer Mandy-Rae Cruickshank swims with a humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean.
Above photo: The filmmakers on location in Taiji, Japan.
