Lionsgate | USA | 92 minutes
Built like a heist film with the added subconscious tension that the stakes are real and danger is actually imminent, The Cove sneaks in you into a small and seemingly innocent Japanese fishing village plastered with art and propaganda that makes it obvious that the small village of Tajii in fact loves whales and dolphins. The reality is however that the small village of Tajii is actually the focal point of a dolphin capture and trade organization that supplies most of the dolphinariums worldwide with the next cute swimming and flipping tourist money trap capitalizing on public dolphin interest established by Flipper in the 1960s. Unless you are an animal rights activist you’re probably wondering why you care that dolphins are being captured and put in aquariums. While that issue is tackled in this Oceans 11-esque documentary and upon seeing the facts you may change your mind on if these dolphins are really happy in their 5000 gallon homes away from home, it is far from the main and most disturbing issue you will discover in your visit to The Cove. There is no Hollywood blood in the water special effects magic happening here. You will witness one of the most horrific and disturbing annual events in the world — The herding of thousands of dolphins into a small cove where they are brutally killed in what could aptly be called a massacre. You may not be an activist today but you will walk out of this film angry, possibly crying and with a vastly changed worldview on the cruelty towards animals.
Read the rest of this review after the jump.
The film is directed by National Geographic photographer Louie Psiohyos and is just as tense and gripping as watching the predator chase it’s prey in Africa. The predator this time is Louie’s crack team of specialists recruited specifically to breach the tight security of this small cove in Tajii. The prey is the tightly guarded secret of what really goes on in the cove despite Japan’s global stance on the “ethical” and “humane” fishing of cetaceans in Japanese waters. Strangely enough the whole movement is started and motivated by the first dolphin trainer and 7 year trainer of the dolphins used for the 1960s show Flipper turned activist Richard O’Barry. Ric can’t show his face in town without being questioned by undercover police and followed everywhere by one to two cars at all times of day. His stance against dolphin capture and cruelty is well known.
The Cove is dripping with drama much in the same vein as Man on Wire. Further proof that real life is usually much stranger and much more interesting than fiction. After establishing the problem and the goal that was required to make a difference the audience is given the terms: We need photographic evidence of the horrific events that happen inside the secret cove. That evidence is hard to come by as that cove couldn’t be better guarded by the Japanese military.
Using camouflage, cameras hidden in fake rocks created by famous practical effects house Industrial Light & Magic, underwater sound recording devices and balls of unparalleled size they sneak into the area at night and plant their surveillance devices covert style. This is guerrilla journalism in its purist form. On the edge of your seat you are dying to find out what will actually happen. Will they get caught? Will they get their evidence? They do in fact succeed in getting their evidence and what is caught on film is real life no shit nonfiction. Raw and visceral horror that will convert any person with half of a heart into a pamphlet distributing animal rights activist.
It is said in the film that the face of a dolphin is very deceiving. The dolphin always appears to be smiling while in fact they are self aware highly intelligent creatures that are constantly depressed and stressed out while in captivity. In fact at every dolphinarium there are bottles of Maalox and other stomach medicines inserted into the dolphin’s meals because they are highly prone to ulcers due to stress. After you discover the personalities and unique and almost human side of a dolphin you will shudder in disgust at the final discovery of the evidence they sought in the film. While it is rather horrible and very disturbing, this film should be seen by everyone. This is one of those brilliant and life changing films that will leave you mouth agape as the credits roll, forever changed from what you were before. The Cove is not just a film — It is a call to action, and take action we must.
9 out of 10
Have you seen The Cove? If not, what are you waiting for?