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 6 wins & 38 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:

orca | shark attack | sea creature | blackfish | fish | 

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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 USA:

$75,962, 21 July 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,063,312, 13 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

There are currently 58 known captive orcas worldwide. 163 have died in captivity, there have been 30 stillborn calves, 14 known capture attempts that resulted in deaths, and 43 that were captured but are unaccounted for.

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Quotes

Whoopi Goldberg: We don't speak Whale.

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Connections

Features Good Morning America (1975)

User Reviews

On how humans should (and should not) encounter orca whales

First, that's a great documentary: it beautifully combines Herzog's "Grizzly Man" thrilling, escalating tension of how things go wrong when humans misinterpret their relation with nature with Achbar & Abbott's "The Corporation" sharp examination of modern-day companies.

Second, it is aesthetically captivating and pleasant to follow. Cowperthwaite's reconstructs the narrative leading to the final, and fatal, encounter of Tilikum and Dawn Brancheau, alternating footage, both in the wild and in aquariums, with interviews and contextual data.

Finally, it is a work that, without ever abandoning neutrality, serves a mostly noble cause: that against the confinement of animals that are intelligent, social, and set to crisscross oceans, not to be kept in tanks.

My hope is that, by being such a fine piece of art, it also helps change the industry of marine-life entertainment theme parks.

So "Blackfish" is a big splash in more than one way! Go watch it.