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 38 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

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

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Taglines:

Shallow Water. Deep Secret.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing content

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

John Potter: It sometimes amazes me that the only language which has been extensively taught to dolphins is a version of American Sign Language, which, of course, you use your hands, so you have all these wonderful signals, and people use their hands to give messages to dolphins. And this somehow kind of misses the point because dolphins don't have hands, so this is inherently a very one-way process. And it's this anthropomorphic, "We have something to teach them or control them," and perhaps we ought to be...

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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

Featured in The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (2010)

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Soundtracks

Heroes
Written by David Bowie & Brian Eno
Performed by David Bowie
Published by Tintoretto Music (BMI)
Administered by RZO Music, Inc.
Courtesy of RZO Music

User Reviews

They are self-aware like humans are self-aware.

Winning almost every award it was nominated for, including the Sundance Audience Award, this film tells the tale of dolphin abuse throughout the world, but especially in Japan.

If you love dolphins, as I do, this film will bring tears to your eyes. You will find all those dolphins you love are not happy. You will find out what happens to the thousands that are not selected by dolphinariums. You will find out the extreme measures Japan takes to make sure you never see this film.

But, due to the incredible work of some dedicated individuals, you are seeing what happens in The Cove.

It is not an easy film to watch. I had to pause it and leave the house several times during the film. But anyone who cares about these creatures must watch it.

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

Gross USA:

$857,005

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,187,434

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