Blackfish
BLACKFISH
Written by Gabriela Cowperthwaite & Eli Despres
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Starring Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg
Image source: thefeed.com.au
We are living in the renaissance of the documentary. Our cup runneth over with startling, courageous, well-shot and tightly edited non-fiction narratives, and the best of those films are doing exactly as they were intended - not just spreading information and outrage, but effecting actual change in the world. Anyone currently working at SeaWorld Resort, Orlando could attest to that right now, and their reason for their remorse is Gabriela Cowperthwaite's incisive, emotional and absolutely stunning film, Blackfish.
Blackfish is in many ways a portrait of a killer - not simply of his crimes, but of how he came to be the psychopath he is today. What makes it unique is that the killer in question is none other than SeaWorld's most famous resident performer, a bull orca named Tilikum. Despite being responsible for the deaths of three people, Tilikum remains in captivity and performing for ecstatic crowds on a daily basis. This documentary focuses on the experiences of a number of trainers in working with and around Tilikum, and explores the ramifications of capturing and containing such powerful and dangerous animals.
A great documentary is often defined by its bravery - the willingness of the filmmakers and participants to tread dark waters, the comparative size and muscle of their targets, and their unquenchable thirst for truth. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite knows well the power of her foe - the seapark industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise with a history of unethical business practice. In order to take on this behemoth, Cowperthwaite has assembled an amazing cast of characters from SeaWorld's pool of former employees, and done a remarkable job of tracing Tilikum's history right back to his capture in the wild. With the exception of SeaWorld's current heads of office, all involved are appalled by the inhumane treatment of killer whales in captivity, and their ire is not without conflict. Many of these trainers lost a friend to this very whale, and yet their scorn rests on the captors rather than the creature.
The budgetary constraints of the film are wondrously clear. Though Blackfish's marketing campaign is extremely strong, with pitch-perfect poster design and a thrilling trailer, the film itself is streamlined and minimal. Little time is wasted on superfluous design elements - text is basic and lacking animation, and all of our attention is focused directly on the task at hand. Genre has been embraced, and the score gives the whole tale the chill of a psychological thriller. Archival footage is used to powerful effect, and Cowperthwaite's own set-pieces, including the beautiful finale, are expertly selected.
The director has worked to balance the playing field, but as the story is so emotionally charged and the evidence so damning, the tone is more accusatory than objective. While this is not necessarily a failing, it's worth noting that film's agenda is clear and present throughout. Precision editing allows the interviews to breathe and gives the necessary space for the most impactful statements, such as the assertion by one of Tilikum's captors that their methods for collecting whale calves were "the worst thing I've ever done".
There are many intense, tear-jerking moments in the story's development, not the least of which have to do with the remarkable empathy and intelligence displayed by orcas in the wild. What we learn is that a killer whale in captivity is not the monster it truly is inside, but rather the monster we create.
As one of the standout films of 2013, Blackfish is incisive, awe-inspiring, and restless in its pursuit of the truth. It is already having a profound effect on SeaWorld's ticket sales, even with its limited release, and it deserves to be seen by a much wider audience. Pair this with The Act of Killing, and there is no doubt that the golden age of documentary filmmaking is upon us.
Blackfish is in many ways a portrait of a killer - not simply of his crimes, but of how he came to be the psychopath he is today. What makes it unique is that the killer in question is none other than SeaWorld's most famous resident performer, a bull orca named Tilikum. Despite being responsible for the deaths of three people, Tilikum remains in captivity and performing for ecstatic crowds on a daily basis. This documentary focuses on the experiences of a number of trainers in working with and around Tilikum, and explores the ramifications of capturing and containing such powerful and dangerous animals.
A great documentary is often defined by its bravery - the willingness of the filmmakers and participants to tread dark waters, the comparative size and muscle of their targets, and their unquenchable thirst for truth. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite knows well the power of her foe - the seapark industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise with a history of unethical business practice. In order to take on this behemoth, Cowperthwaite has assembled an amazing cast of characters from SeaWorld's pool of former employees, and done a remarkable job of tracing Tilikum's history right back to his capture in the wild. With the exception of SeaWorld's current heads of office, all involved are appalled by the inhumane treatment of killer whales in captivity, and their ire is not without conflict. Many of these trainers lost a friend to this very whale, and yet their scorn rests on the captors rather than the creature.
The budgetary constraints of the film are wondrously clear. Though Blackfish's marketing campaign is extremely strong, with pitch-perfect poster design and a thrilling trailer, the film itself is streamlined and minimal. Little time is wasted on superfluous design elements - text is basic and lacking animation, and all of our attention is focused directly on the task at hand. Genre has been embraced, and the score gives the whole tale the chill of a psychological thriller. Archival footage is used to powerful effect, and Cowperthwaite's own set-pieces, including the beautiful finale, are expertly selected.
The director has worked to balance the playing field, but as the story is so emotionally charged and the evidence so damning, the tone is more accusatory than objective. While this is not necessarily a failing, it's worth noting that film's agenda is clear and present throughout. Precision editing allows the interviews to breathe and gives the necessary space for the most impactful statements, such as the assertion by one of Tilikum's captors that their methods for collecting whale calves were "the worst thing I've ever done".
There are many intense, tear-jerking moments in the story's development, not the least of which have to do with the remarkable empathy and intelligence displayed by orcas in the wild. What we learn is that a killer whale in captivity is not the monster it truly is inside, but rather the monster we create.
As one of the standout films of 2013, Blackfish is incisive, awe-inspiring, and restless in its pursuit of the truth. It is already having a profound effect on SeaWorld's ticket sales, even with its limited release, and it deserves to be seen by a much wider audience. Pair this with The Act of Killing, and there is no doubt that the golden age of documentary filmmaking is upon us.
Your excellent critique of this film has captured my attention like none other. It has made me want to see a film that I would probably have shied away from in the past. The use of this type of documentary film-making to affect change, is quietly revolutionary and absolutely necessary. Thank you.
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