The Cove (2009)

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

Director:

Louie Psihoyos

Writer:

Mark Monroe

Stars:

Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones

Won 1 Oscar. Another 26 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard O'Barry	...	Himself (as Ric O'Barry)
Louie Psihoyos	...	Himself
Hardy Jones	...	Himself
Michael Illiff	...	Himself
Joji Morishita	...	Himself
Ian Campbell	...	Himself
Paul Watson	...	Himself (as Captain Paul Watson)
Doug DeMaster	...	Himself
Dave Rastovich	...	Himself / Surfer
Charles Hambleton	...	Himself
Hayato Sakurai	...	Himself
Kazutaka Sangen	...	Himself
Simon Hutchins	...	Himself
Joe Chisholm	...	Himself
Mandy-Rae Cruikshank	...	Herself / Freediver

Storyline

Richard O'Barry was the man who captured and trained the dolphins for the television show Flipper. O'Barry's view of cetaceans in captivity changed from that experience when as the last straw he saw that one of the dolphins playing Flipper - her name being Kathy - basically committed suicide in his arms because of the stress of being in captivity. Since that time, he has become one of the leading advocates against cetaceans in captivity and for the preservation of cetaceans in the wild. O'Barry and filmmaker 'Louie Psihoyos (I)' go about trying to expose one of what they see as the most cruel acts against wild dolphins in the world in Taiji, Japan, where dolphins are routinely corralled, either to be sold alive to aquariums and marine parks, or slaughtered for meat. The primary secluded cove where this activity is taking place is heavily guarded. O'Barry and Psihoyos are well known as enemies by the authorities in Taiji, the authorities who will use whatever tactic to expel the two ...

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Plot Keywords:

dolphin | japan | dolphin meat | expose | japanese government | 

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Taglines:

Shallow Water. Deep Secret.

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Genres:

Documentary | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Australia]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

20 August 2009 (Australia)

Also Known As:

The Rising

Filming Locations:

Taiji, Higashimuro, Wakayama, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$57,640 (USA) (31 July 2009)

Gross:

$869,730 (USA) (19 March 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diamond Docs, Fish Films, Oceanic Preservation Society

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kerner Optical, previously the Industrial Light and Magic model shop, created special camouflaged (rock-like) cameras that helped capture some of the footage in the cove.

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Quotes

John Potter: As a scientist, I'm trained to recognize intelligence through objective measures... tool use, cognitive processes, and so on. As a human being, when I see a dolphin looking at me and his eyes tracking me and I lock eyes with that animal, there's a human response that makes it undeniable that I'm connecting with an intelligent being.

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Crazy Credits

After the end credits there is a humorous scene involving the team's Whale Blimp and local police.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: 2010 Tournament of Champions Quarterfinal 4 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Brazilian Hipster"
Written by Steven Albert, Sid Barcelona, Jon Horvath, Robert Myers, & Stephen Raskin
Production & Live Instrumentation by the Fort Knox Five
Performed by the Fort Knox Five
Licensed Courtesy of by Fort Knox Recordings
Licensed by Arrangement of FK5 Music (BMI)
Administered by Bug Music

User Reviews

A call to arms.

Something tells me that this heartbreaking documentary is going to stay with me for a long, long time. This movie depicts in painful detail the horrors of dolphin fishing (yes, you heard me right) which has been occurring for a long time in a secretive place called Taiji in Japan. How secretive? Even the common Japanese do not know that it is taking place in their country. The film takes its time in unfolding the horrors and conspiracy layer by layer and ends with a bang. It plays out like a suspense thriller but is far more effective than any suspense thrillers because this takes place in real life. I certainly will do my best to promote it to the others and support the cause. The direction is fantastic and several underwater shots seem to be taken right off Earth or National Geographic, which looks great on the big screen. This documentary has been made by activists that have been crying out loud to deaf ears for the past three decades. I am certain that this is not the last we will hear of it. This film should certainly make an impact and change a few things in the world.