This 94 min doco is currently being shown around NZ in the 09 Film Festival.
www.thecovemovie.com

The write up says... 'a spectacular activist film by National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos follows US conservation group Oceanic Preservation as it exposes Japan’s dolphin trade.’
— What an understatement!

Film Write Up
Flipper was one of the most beloved television characters of all time. But ironically, the fascination with dolphins that he caused created a tragic epidemic that has threatened their existence and become a multibillion dollar industry. The largest supplier of dolphins in the world is located in the picturesque town of Taijii, Japan. But the town has a dark, horrifying secret that it doesn't want the rest of the world to know. There are guards patrolling the cove, where the dolphin capturing takes place, who prevent any photography. The only way to stop the evil acts of this company and the town that protects it is to expose them... and that's exactly what the brave group of activists in The Cove intend to do.

Armed with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, the members of the small group, led by the most famous dolphin trainer in the world, devise a covert plan to infiltrate the cove to document the horrifying events that happen there. Along the way, they uncover what may be the largest health crisis facing our planet — the poisoning of our seas.

Part environmental documentary, part horror film, part spy thriller, The Cove is as suspenseful as it is enlightening. The final result is a heart-wrenching, but inspirational, story that shows the true power of film in the hands of people who aren't afraid to risk everything for a vital cause.

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Editors Review:
When entering the small Japanese town of Taijii, Wakayama, Japan, there are pictuires of dolphins everywhere — on the pavement, walls of buildings, — a town that obviously revered the dolphin big time. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Former dolphin trainer of the Flipper series, Ric Barry, realises the terrible mistake of keeping dolphins in captivity. He observed Cathy (the first of the ‘Flipper series’ dolphins), recognise herself on TV — the first animal to demonstrate self-awareness. Dolphins were being medicated on Tagamet to heal their stress ulcers in captivity. Their sonar is capable of picking up a heartbeat and very early pregnancy in the human being; this sensitivity to sound being their downfall in the Cove massacre. Dolphins are not automatic air breathers and many just gave up and stopped breathing — suicide was their only way out of the sheer hell of captivity. Further studies revealed the true nature of possibly the most intelligent creature on earth. Nick Barry realised too, that the Dolphin’s ‘smile’ was an illusion.

The Cove at Taiji becomes one of his passionate focal points when he discovered over 23000 dolphins are slaughtered or sold there each year. A selected young female can bring US$150,000 to the Japanese fishermen and is worth a cool US$1,000,000 a year to the dolphin marinelands as entertainment value.

The rest of the dolphins are slaughtered and sold for around $600. Their meat contains about 2000 parts per million of mercury, the World Health Organisation safety limit for humans is 4 parts per million. The meat was being sold to children for their school lunches (which are compulsory in Japan) and marketed under whale meat in supermarkets to avoid detection.

A group of men and women risked their lives to document this terrible slaughter. Imprisonment in Japan is without legal redress for at least 28 days, during which time detainees may be legally tortured. Over 96% ‘confess’ before their 28 days are up.

The fishermen said they were not doing anything illegal, in fact they refused to accept money rather than slaughter the dolphins, as they were taking part in ‘pest control’ (dolphins ate their coastal fish). The Oceanic group placed hidden cameras to observe the killings in The Cove. Herded by boats carrying sound gongs that disorientated the dolphins, spears turned the whole sea bright red with blood, dolphins writhed in agony, young pups called in vain for their mothers and fishermen watched with a smile on their face and a cigarette to celebrate.

The International Whaling Commission is totally ineffectual against dolphin slaughter, as Dolphins are not protected under any Agreement. Japan ‘buys’ favours from poor nigh bankrupt nations, and don’t like being told what to do by anyone at the IWC. Besides, the Japanese just about ‘own’ the commission in the monetary support they give behind the scenes… the whole set up is a farce.

You need to take a deep breath before settling to watch this film. It has you on edge for the entire session. And when you come out of the cinema and go home, and wake up the next day, and mow the lawns the next week, and plan the holiday next year, you don’t forget.

See my Editorial on NZ’s stand!!!