Killer whales are beloved as majestic, friendly giants yet infamous for their capacity to kill viciously. Blackfish unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of the notorious performing whale Tilikum, who, unlike any orca in the wild, has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. Blackfish expands on the discussion of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity.
This documentary from Gabriela Cowperthwaite presents an investigation into the ongoing business practices and coverups by SeaWorld Entertainment in relation to Orcas help in captivity. Intercut with recollections and interviews with former trainers, the emotion and anguish of these creatures in captivity is conveyed resulting in a powerful film that educates, moves and hopefully prompts a greater awareness amongst those millions who choose a SeaWorld as a holiday destination every year.
Blackfish takes a two pronged approach to telling it’s story, the first is in the treatment of the whales, their imprisonment and their level of mental anguish that results from it. The second approach that is interwoven in the film, is in relation to the business practices of SeaWorld itself. The basic line is that the orcas are property and a source of income that need to be protected. A news story about a ‘killer whale’ actually killing someone is not good PR.
The themes dealing with the SeaWorld trainer/Orca interactions are the most gripping and disturbing aspects of the film. We have interviews with former trainers initially describing their joy and excitement to become whale handlers (with shockingly poor levels of training), now set on exposing the corporation for misleading them as well as the public. These are people who spend time with the creatures, bond with them and yet many of the spiels they delivered to the public during shows were falsehoods, designed by the management of SeaWorld to ease concerns. This includes tour guides stating the normalcy of health issues such as dorsal fin collapse which is prevalent in most captive orcas yet actually only visible in 1% of the population in the wild.
Much footage of ‘incidents’ captured by training and security feeds were destroyed by SeaWorld but some have surfaced notably from members of the public and are shared in this documentary. The trainers offer commentary to home video footage giving a fascinating breakdown of some events, the signals and behavioral cues from the whales that suggest a impending attack. It is harrowing viewing when these attack scenes are actually shown. In parallel we have researchers discussing the highly intelligent and social behavior of the orcas. Together with the conditions they are confined in and treatment they receive it is little wonder they become aggressive, there is no record of a attack on a human in the wild and it is clear the unsuitable, frustrating conditions are contributing to numerous conditions suffered by the whales. It is eloquently summed up in the film by one CNN anchor (Jane Velez-Mitchell) commenting, “If you were in a bathtub for 25 years, don’t you think you’d get a little psychotic?”.
The turning point for any viewer, if they were not wise enough to realize it before viewing, is learning how intelligent and emotional the orcas are. This is where the heartbreak really sets in. Seeing the emotional responses, the pack/family behavior, the intelligence. Learning how the whales are captured and seeing a interview with a hunter employed by SeaWorld where he breaks down while recanting hearing the cries of a mother as they took her calf (cheaper shipping costs to take the young) away is incredibly distressing. This is only topped by his tale of how they dealt with the whales unfortunate enough to be killed during a hunt, further actions to protect a image that in all likelihood were illegal. There is a focus within the documentary on one whale in particular, Tilikum. This is a large adult male who throughout his life in captivity has been connected to numerous ‘incidents’ involving his trainers and in one instance a member of the public who strayed into his tank one night. A prolonged, tortuous existence has created a aggressive and unpredictable male and due to his size, his star quality and also his reliability for breeding is essentially ‘protected’ by SeaWorld.
The breakdown of the coverups and legal actions of the company elicits a different emotion, anger. It is shown that SeaWorld have engaged in a campaign of cover-ups and misinformation over decades in response to these incidents. A trainer being dragged to the bottom of a tank and mangled being first reported as a simple drowning and then later due to public testimony changed to handler error. SeaWorld declined to do any interviews for the film and has issued a point-by-point rebuttal of many of the points made in Blackfish. The message driven home in the film is how SeaWorld is essentially concerned with its image, property and bottom line rather than the physical and emotional well being of these orcas. After one of the more recent deaths, a resulting lawsuit ordered SeaWorld to place barriers between whales and trainers during show; they are currently appealing that ruling. Accepting it would further underline the dangers of what they do. It is a mentality and approach that must be changed, SeaWorld is in unique position through its contacts and infrastructure to create a sanctuary and protect animals. They could still make a profit, but the approach needs to change. The fallacies they perpetuate contributing equally to harming these creatures as holding them in captivity does.Eventually the reality will permeate the public consciousness and it is a question of when not if their business model backfires. One can only hope it is sooner rather than later.
The disc itself is competently put together. The transfer is fine but a large portion of the film consists of old video footage from he 80s and 90s so Hi-Def is a little redundant. The extras contain some more in depth features many dealing with the physical and emotional strains on orcas during captivity. More recollections with former trainers, alternatives to captivity and another look at how such a unnatural environment can lead to some unnatural afflictions and even death amongst the Orcas. These features answer questions and concerns the documentary will provoke while watching. It is great to have them here for those who want more. They open up details to viewers without interrupting the narrative and emotional impact of the film.
Blackfish is not revelatory, or at least it shouldn’t be. It is not hard to envisage the plight of these creatures and I fear a large swath of the public has either been fooled for too long or not been considerate enough to the reality of the situation. Blackfish is an incredibly effective documentary fulfilling it’s two remits, to educate about the practices perpetuated by SeaWorld and provoke a emotional response to the plight of these orcas in captivity. The film shows fundamentally how greed can fuel such shameful, terrible acts and a copy of this film should be given to everyone visiting Seaworld or even considering it. Spread the word. Free Tilikum. Free them all.
OFFICIAL SELECTION AT THE 2013 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
BLACKFISH: Riveting Exploration Of The Controversial Practice Of Keeping Killer Whales In Captivity Arrives On Blu-ray and DVD November 12 From Magnolia Home Entertainment
From the Press Release: Bonus Features Extended Interviews AXS TV: A Look at Blackfish
Theatrical Trailer
Blu-ray Disc DVD Price: $29.98 Street Date: November 12, 2013 Running Time: 83 min Catalog: 10618
MPAA Rating: PG-13
DVD Basics DVD Price: $26.98 Street Date: November 12, 2013 Running Time: 83 min Catalog: 10617
MPAA Rating: PG-13