The Cove (2009)

The Cove is a movie starring Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, and Hardy Jones. 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 38 wins & 17 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 (1964). 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...

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Plot Keywords:

concealment | japanese | lie | mercury the chemical element | dolphin | 

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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:

Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

7 August 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Rising

Filming Locations:

Taiji, Higashimuro, Wakayama, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$57,640, 2 August 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$857,005

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

People Concerned for the Ocean, a local Taiji activist group, distributed DVDs in March of 2011 of the film, dubbed in Japanese, to all 3,500 residents of Taiji.

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Quotes

Hardy Jones: Every cetacean known to man is endangered just by going anywhere near Japan.

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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 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.162 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Smile
Music by Charles Chaplin
Words by John Turner & Geoffrey Parsons
© Copyright by Nat King Cole
Produced and Arranged by MATTER Music
Performed & Sung by Gaby Moreno & Chris Joyner
Courtesy of MATTER Music

User Reviews

Powerful, disturbing and will make you want to take action

Words can hardly describe how powerful this documentary is, and the lengths to which human cruelty can extend to. Louie Psihoyos and his team infiltrate a secret cove near Taiji, Japan and expose a brutal instance of animal cruelty. This film opens your eyes to the truly devastating fates of thousands of dolphins, who are slaughtered without remorse.Being an animal lover, and my dream to become a zoologist, this film has really inspired me to be active and do whatever necessary to protect the beauty of our planet. Alongside Ric O Barry, Psihoyos is able to clearly point out the error of these marvelous creatures in captivity, and how they deserve to be free, just like any other creature.

If you are one of those people that see my ways, then you'll be affected deeply too to take action. Forget the damn critics, this isn't a Hollywood blockbuster, this is a way of life for us and what we've become...what we've turned into.

Support the cause to stop this.