Blackfish

Documentary is the most underrated category of film by far. These films tend to generate less buzz than blockbusters, therefore great films often go unnoticed. However if done right, these films can be exceptionally powerful, because they are able to do something that narrative films do not- tell true stories through the eyes of people that have lived them.

I may have been exceptionally late to the "Blackfish" viewing party, but at last I have seen it, and my viewpoints on the treatment of wildlife will never be the same again. This 2013 documentary, by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, chronicled the story of Tilikum, a SeaWorld orca whale responsible for taking the lives of three people.

This film serves as an exposé on the underlying manipulative corporate side of SeaWorld. I have never been keen on going to places such as aquariums or zoos. I have the distinct memory of going to the zoo as a child, where I experienced my first heartbreak about the mistreatment of animals. My smile quickly turned to a frown as I investigated the polar bear exhibit. I saw an environment with little ice, containing a too-skinny polar bear with eyes full of sorrow. It was a hot summer day, and this poor bear looked miserable under the sun. It was at this young age that I recognized the importance of not providing business to zoos, and other attractions like SeaWorld. I remember reading books about the mistreatment of animals in zoos when they first came to America. Since my youth, I have resisted trips to these facilities.

I saw this film almost a week ago, and the material has been haunting my mind ever since. "Blackfish" is a very powerful movie that is not for the weak-of-heart- that being said it is a film that everyone should experience. It emphasizes the importance of leaving animals as nature intended. This film tackles many important subjects, and effectively develops each point fully. It not only outlines the horrific incidences of human deaths, but the psychological and physical pain underwent by the animals.

I learned a lot from this film. Marine life is very interesting, though I must admit I knew little about the habits of orca whales before viewing this documentary. I learned that orcas are very social creatures. Studies have shown that the part of their brain encompassing emotion have further developments than human brains. They are extremely sympathetic animals. Orcas are arranged into matriarchal societies. This film provided a nice foundation of basic information before getting into the nitty gritty of their story.

The film then uncovered the unfortunate reality of the mistreatment of orcas at SeaWorld. This mistreatment eventually led to psychological damage, which promoted the deaths of multiple SeaWorld trainers. Since SeaWorld is a popular tourist attraction, footage of these occurrences was readily available. The video documentation may be painful to watch, however strongly supports the points addressed in the film. I don't want to explain every aspect of this film, as it is very important to watch firsthand (it's on Netflix- check it out!) This was a very powerful film that brought my attention to issues that can easily be overlooked by those not directly involved.