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:

Friend. Outcast. Killer.

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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

As of August 2015, Seaworld profits have dropped 84% compared to the period prior to this film's release.

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Quotes

John Hargrove: Those are not your whales. Ya know, you love them, and you think, I'm the one that touches them, feeds them, keeps them alive, gives them the care that they need. They're NOT your whales. They own them!

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Connections

Referenced in BoJack Horseman: Fish Out of Water (2016)

User Reviews

Nice orca; let's torture it. Murder mystery with SeaWorld as villain and you as willing accomplice.

In February 2010, reports of the accidental death of a killer whale trainer, Dawn Brancheau, at SeaWorld, Orlando featured in newspapers and TV bulletins across the globe. How could such a tragedy occur? What on earth was Brancheau thinking? How could she make such a silly mistake? Then the story changed and it appeared this very experienced trainer was attacked by the orca, Tilikum. Shockwaves rippled. What? A gentle giant killed a human that cared for it? Suddenly killer whales lived up to their fearsome moniker and became the villains of the moment.

Then the story changed again and the truth began to emerge…

Blackfish is a startling documentary from Gabriela Cowperthwaite that investigates the reality behind the sparkling waters and bright lights of the SeaWorld parks, not that they are alone in their mistreatment of these startling, intelligent, beautiful creatures. She trawls through the archives to reveal that Brancheau's death was neither a freak accident nor an isolated attack from a vicious animal, but just one of many examples since humans decided it was acceptable to kidnap young orcas for the pleasure and pockets of humans. Kidnap? Is such a strong word appropriate? Watch Blackfish, listen to the mother make "sounds we've never heard an orca make before" in a harrowing display of grief and then decide.

Watching Blackfish and still choosing to visit SeaWorld or another such aquatic zoo is surely on the same level as taking your kids to McDonalds even though you know you're poisoning them. If I were reviewing the subject of Blackfish, like 2009's powerfully distressing The Cove, it would surely warrant a perfect score. Upon the evidence here, even if you've chosen not to see the truth of our actions in the past, there's no contest. It's wrong, it's unacceptable, it's a despicable thing we do when we steal these creatures from their oceans and trap them in tiny prisons. But the review is not for the subject matter but for the manner in which it is presented to us.

Blackfish isn't perfect. It doesn't have quite the same profound, lasting impact as The Cove. Perhaps that is, in part, down to the lack of shocking imagery. The footage of orcas bleeding copiously into their pools, having been attacked by other killer whales, is sickening but because it is on a smaller scale than the mass slaughter of dolphins that dyed the cove scarlet there is a risk the impact will be reduced. It shouldn't be, it mustn't be, but… We shouldn't need to see it to believe it, but we've become a far more visually inspired breed in recent years.

More than that, Blackfish doesn't give a lot of time to the other side of the story. I'm intrigued to know quite how SeaWorld could possibly defend its actions but, as they declined to be interviewed, this is a very one-sided documentary. I can't help thinking this imperative cause would be even more compelling if we could hear the excuses.

Another unexplained mystery is how Cowperthwaite obtained the footage she has of SeaWorld. Presumably they didn't give it to her willingly. But these are minor quibbles with a documentary that is as sickening as it is compelling. Interviews with apologetic, horrified former SeaWorld trainers and tear-streaked 'kidnappers' impart the information we need to educate, inform, convince or perhaps even convert us.

First, Cowperthwaite teaches us about the orcas: Their brains are superior to ours in certain aspects; their emotional attachment far exceeds ours, with offspring remaining with their mother long into adulthood; each family group (or pod) has it's own culture and 'language' for communication.

She then counters that with the lies perpetuated by the SeaWorld staff that we choose to believe: Orcas live longer, up to 35 years, in captivity due to the care available – actually, in the wild, it's up to 50 for males and can be closer to a hundred for the females.

Male dorsal fin collapse is normal – absolutely, it's 100% in captivity. However, in their natural environment it occurs approximately 1% of the time.

Killer whales enjoy performing the tricks in tiny pools for us – um…

As more and more evidence of orca psychosis brought on by cruelty and captivity unfolds, Blackfish becomes increasingly difficult to watch. The sight of peeling paint in a tiny, floating warehouse into which the orcas are herded every night is saddening. Hearing that they are punished for not performing perfectly is horrifying. Watching them bleed, observing them rock in grief or cry out to their stolen offspring is heartbreaking.

The message throughout Blackfish is that faceless managers steal killer whales (along with dolphins and countless other creatures) from their natural habitats, subject them to abuse and solitary confinement in woefully cramped enclosures so that we can pay to watch them perform unnatural tricks for our cameras, and so the owners can watch their bank accounts swell. The message is, it isn't about entertainment or protection of a species, it's about money.

But what stamps the reality more indelibly than anything that comes before it, is the comment from one of the former trainers in the final scene. As they sail through the ocean, watching a pod of killer whales free and at peace in their natural environment, he comments, "We saw orcas swimming in straight lines with straight dorsal fins... it was an honour."

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