Blackfish (2013)

A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.

Director:

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Writers:

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Eli B. Despres (as Eli Despres)

Stars:

Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 36 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tilikum	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Hargrove	...	Himself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
Samantha Berg	...	Herself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
Mark Simmons	...	Himself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
Kim Ashdown	...	Herself
Dean Gomersall	...	Himself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
James Earl Jones	...	Himself (archive footage)
Shamu	...	Himself (archive footage)
Carol Ray	...	Herself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
John Jett	...	Himself - Fomer SeaWorld Trainer
Dawn Brancheau	...	Herself - SeaWorld Trainer (archive footage)
Jeffrey Ventre	...	Himself - Former SeaWorld Trainer
Thomas Tobin	...	Himself
Dave Duffus	...	Himself - OSHA Expert Witness, Whale Researcher
Jim Payne	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.

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Plot Keywords:

whale | trainer | death | captivity | killer whale | 

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Taglines:

Never capture what you can't control.

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing and violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Belgian Official Site Dutch Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

18 October 2013 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

Blackfish - Egy kardszárnyú delfin története

Filming Locations:

Sea World, San Diego, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$75,962 (USA) (19 July 2013)

Gross:

$2,063,312 (USA) (11 October 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Manny O Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the 58 captive orcas in the world, 23 are owned by Seaworld, spread across their 3 U.S. parks.

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Quotes

Christopher Porter - Former Trainer, Sealand: When you know the animal and have a relationship with it. You know, that he's not killing, because he's a savage. He's not killing, because he's crazy or because he doesn't know what he's doing. He's killing, because he's frustrated and has aggrevation. And when he's... He has no outlet for it.

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Connections

Features Good Morning America (1975)

User Reviews

A must-see!

This is a thought-provoking documentary on Tilikum, an Orca that has been at Sea World since 1983 and who is responsible for the death of 3 people (2 of his trainers, and 1 man who snuck into his tank). This is a film about the horrors that these animals go through being kept in captivity for our pleasure and the latest film to showcase how horrible Sea World can be for the very animals it claims to protect, oh the irony.

If you thought watching 'The Cove' was difficult, I suggest you take tissues if you plan on seeing this. 2 days later and I still can't stop thinking about this movie or get rid of some of the images and sounds shown.

I highly recommend this doc. Go see it with an open mind, I guarantee that you will never see captivity the same way again.

"If you were in a bathtub for 25 years, don't you think you'd get a little psychotic?!"