Eco-documentary, from National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos and marine crusade Richard O'Barry, campaigning for the end to dolphin slaughter in...
Eco-documentary, from National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos and marine crusade Richard O'Barry, campaigning for the end to dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan.
In Taiji, dolphin's are captured for the world's dolphinariums. The grotesque by-product of this already questionable trade is that surplus dolphins are slaughtered and passed off as whale meat in the supermarkets of Japan. The film follows US conservation group Oceanic Preservation Society – equipped and financed to the tune of $5 million by Netscape founder Jim Clark – as it covertly penetrates the massive wall of security around the operation in order to capture the footage that should blow this operation out of the water. Former Flipper trainer Ric O'Barry, painfully aware of the role that TV series had in popularising performing dolphin shows, is an eloquent and moving exponent of dolphin rights and a clued-up commentator on the intransigence of the Japanese and the ineffectiveness of the International Whaling Commission. (Source: NZ International Film Festival)
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Where to watch The Cove
95 %133 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
94 %25,786 reviewsAudience score rating
"Eco-activist documentaries don't get much more compelling than The Cove, an impassioned piece of advocacy filmmaking that follows "Flipper" trainer-turned-marine crusader Richard O'Barry in his efforts to end dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan."
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Variety
Variety"Like the director's cover story, the movie is a Trojan horse: an exceptionally well-made documentary that unfolds like a spy thriller, complete with bugged hotel rooms, clandestine derring-do and mysterious men in gray flannel suits."
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The New York Times
The New York Times"There are many documentaries angry about the human destruction of the planetary peace. This is one of the very best -- a certain Oscar nominee."
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Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert"The film-makers maintain a relentless pace, frequent confrontations with Japanese fisherman and caricature-like law enforcement notwithstanding. The Cove is outstanding film-making."
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Otago Daily Times
Otago Daily Times"A documentary dressed up as a knuckle-whitening thriller."
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New Zealand Herald
New Zealand Herald"With a spy-thriller intellect and activist spirit, The Cove is an utterly compelling exploration of the dolphin trade, and the efforts of one passionate individual to tear it down."
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Lumiere Reader
Lumiere Reader"A powerful and effective piece of advocacy filmmaking, but it's difficult to watch it without thinking of subtitles like "The Place Where Evil Dwells" or "The Little Town With the Really Big Secret." Which is no accident."
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times"Shot rivetingly by cinematographer Brooke Aitken, who combines digital, night-vision and thermal-imaging formats into a formidable package, the footage is edited tautly by Geoffrey Richman and enhanced measurably by J. Ralph's suspenseful score."
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Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Reporter"Like Man on Wire in 2008, and Deep Blue Sea in 2007, The Cove is the documentary that deserves to break through in 2009."
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Dominion Post
Dominion PostThe Cove | Details
Award winner- Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, 2010. Audience Award (Documentary), Sundance Film Festival 2009.
- Runtime
- 94
- Genre
- Documentary
- Country of origin
- USA
