The Cove
One of the most powerful nature documentaries that not only delves into the deep cries of the past but points out in present by identifying the natural atrocities that is happening with dolphins in a special cove in Taiji, Japan. It is known that in reality almost 23000 dolphins are killed in this place in Japan annually.
Documentary: The Cove
Casting: Joe Chisholm, Mandy-Rae Cruikshank, Charles Hambleton, Simon Hutchins, Kirk Krack, Isabel Lucas, Richard O’Barry, Hayden Panettiere
Directed By: Louie Psihoyos
Written By: Mark Monroe
Produced By: Paula DuPré Pesman, Fisher Stevens
Rating: 4/5
This documentary brings into the forefront the brutality and killing of the dolphins and also takes on a concerted effort to bring an end to slaughtering of dolphins in Japan. This film is paced as a thriller and the devastating final images of the movie demand it to be seen in the big screen to feel the pain and the urgency to do justice to this most loved species worldwide.
As The Cove directed by Louise Psihoyos unfolds, it introduces to the audience a bunch of characters who act as key players to expose this sinful practice in a documentary-styled film. There is Richard O Barry, the former dolphin trainer who trained five dolphins for the TV Show Flipper and definitely a proponent for the animals who began questioning as why dolphins are kept in captivity to be exploited in places like Sea World, a pair of divers who willingly risks their lives to bring into light the injustice, cameraman for the video footage even if that means staying for one month in Japanese jail, tech experts and a handful of skilled professionals.
Watching this documentary you will realize that dolphins are destroyed for no good reason and the slaughter of these innocent animals are being carried out for no reason. The flesh of animals has very high concentration of mercury and that is considered as poisonous and definitely dangerous to eat. So why are they trapped and slaughtered? It is assumed that dolphin flesh is often mislabeled as whale meat and finds silent entries into the lunch boxes of Japanese children.
One must also know that dolphins are no fish; they are mammals and one of the most intelligent species who not only learn but also make attempts to teach their offspring. The Cove in one sentence is a heart breaking documentary as it describes how Richard and his teammates break the tight security cover around Taiji and enters the cove area to obtain the forbidden video footage of the heinous act. The cameras used are tucked in the laps of the rocks and that seems blended with the landscape.
There are innumerable horror films that raise gooseflesh but the last scene of The Cove is too much disturbing and this too powerful documentary is sure to be a Oscar winner. It really takes guts to shoot a film like this that not only highlights the reality but has a well-paced emotional story as well.
This documentary will definitely score points in underwater photography as it reflects breathtaking beauty. The film is expected to improve the world a bit as well and that by itself is the testimonial of beautiful documentary filmmaking.
Posted on Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am