Blackfish (2013) (English Language)

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83min

Cast: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg …and more

Writers: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Eli B. Despres, Tim Zimmermann

If you enjoy documentaries that challenge long held beliefs in things you’ve taken for granted then Blackfish is a must watch for you.

This is essentially a film that questions the way that society keeps intelligent and emotionally complex animals for show and profit and the consequences of these actions, for both man and the animal.

More specifically it is the story of Tilikum, a large male Orca (Killer) Whale currently living in SeaWorld Florida and whom it is claimed is directly responsible for the deaths of 3 human beings while in captivity over the course of 20 years.

Director Coperthwaite uses archive footage interspersed with actual news footage and recent interviews to paint a picture of an alleged denial and cover-up by the management of SeaWorld, to protect their prized aquatic asset and deny any link between emotional issues in these complex animals and being held in isolated captivity for so long.

It should be remembered that there are at least 2 sides to every story and SeaWorld themselves have denied the accusations levelled at them.

Despite this and certain moments of clear over-sentimentality Blackfish is a compelling watch if you go in with an open mind and is a film that can certainly challenge the way you think about animal captivity.