Friday, July 26, 2013

Blackfish


Writer/Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s well-done documentary Blackfish is an eye-opening exposé on SeaWorld and similar exhibitions featuring black orca whales.

 Inspired by the death of Dawn Brancheau that achieved national attention a few years ago, Cowperthwaite goes back into the history of Tilicum, the orca responsible for killing Ms. Brancheau, and proceeds to detail 2 other deadly attacks by Tilicum and the over 70 killer-whale attacks that have taken place over the last 20 years. 
Interviews with former trainers give a clear picture of the horrible conditions in which these extremely intelligent creatures are kept and the film posits that Tilicum may be wreaking revenge for its kidnapping from its family as a baby.

 

However, the real villain does not appear to be Tilicum, but the greedy management of SeaWorld that has kept the truth of the attacks not only from the public, but from their own employees.

 
I give Blackfish a well-deserved 4+ out of 5.


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