A Documentary Everyone Should See: "The Cove"

Directed by National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos, "The Cove" (2009) is an eye-opening documentary that follows the story of former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry (of "Flipper" series fame) on his quest to raise awareness about and stop mass dolphin killings in Taiji, Japan. The film features commentary by several international representatives, diplomats, and activists, as well as interviews with Japanese officials, as it chronicles the daily battles waged between Japanese fishermen and officials and the brave souls who are attempting to put an end to the annual slayings.

I first watched this video in my AP Environmental Science course but strongly believe that such an important issue should be brought to greater national consciousness. As "The Cove" reports, an estimated 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed annually in a secluded cove in Taiji's National Park. The dolphins are trapped in this cove, which serves two purposes; the hidden area prevents documentation of the massacre, and allows fishermen to more easily corral the animals and execute them. In the cove, the dolphins are as easily caught or killed as fish are shot in a barrel.

The film crew follows O'Barry and a cast of deep sea divers and activists, including "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, on a mission to place hidden cameras around the shielded harbor, in hopes of recording incriminating images to prove the Japanese cover-up of the killings. These activists develop new technologies, including cameras disguised as mossy rocks. The team creeps along the surrounding cliffs in the dead of night in order to evade patrols and position the cameras in various strategic locations in order to retrieve the best evidence. Additional measures include the commissioning of a plane (which runs under the pretense of "entertaining the Japanese children") to fly over and retrieve aerial footage of the killings.

O'Barry introduces us to the killings in Taiji and candidly blames himself for them. He feels that he created the entertainment market for dolphin shows early in his career, and maintains that while he created the "Flipper" series with good intentions, he failed to foresee the dangerous consequences of the obsession with dolphins that he would inspire in the public. Over 50 years ago, O'Barry captured five dolphins and launched the "Flipper" series, which soon caught on as a global phenomenon. After the death of his dolphin, Cathy, however, O'Barry recognized that keeping the dolphins in captivity was cruel and unnatural, and has spent the subsequent years of his life trying to erase the impact of his television series.

Today, the dolphin meat and dolphin entertainment industries are massive, and incomprehensible numbers of the mammal are killed or captured each year in the name of providing cheap (and dangerous-- dolphin meat is high in mercury concentrations) meat and superficial dolphin shows and swim with dolphin programs. As a result, O'Barry sees it as his responsibility, and to an extent his penance, to end the killings in Taiji and to raise global awareness for the horrible treatment that dolphins receive in captivity.

Japan has, in recent years, repeatedly denied that any such killings take place. At international conferences, the nation's officials reject claims that Ric O'Barry and others make, alleging that the dolphins are herded into the cove and murdered by the masses. In Taiji, the cove's surrounding area is barricaded off not only by sharp inclines and steep cliffs, as well as dense natural vegetation, but also by barbed-wiring, signage, and men, including the film's infamous "Private Space," who make it their job to keep outsiders from witnessing what goes on down in the water below. Day in and day out, the Japanese men line the water's edge, obstructing any view of activity in the cove. These men do not hesitate to push cameramen and O'Barry around, nor to tail their cars or to pursue them into the cove's surrounding bluffs. Private Space and his crew pose a constant threat to O'Barry and his team, and attempt to threaten and intimidate the team into giving up. Their efforts force O'Barry's team to take up additional precautionary measures, which include sending out decoy cars and attempts to confuse "Private Space." Private Space and his men frequently corner O'Barry and detain him for questioning; of course, O'Barry lies. Regardless, these dangerous men only add to the obstacles already imposed by customs regulations, international relations, and property rights.

Perhaps most shocking is the fact that a large portion of Taiji's population, like the rest of the world, has absolutely no idea about the events occurring annually just offshore. Japanese who were interviewed were similarly shocked to learn that dolphin is sold and consumed in large quantities as a meat, and those Japanese who are aware of the extent of the killings and of the dolphin meat market, are on a mission to stop it. The film profiles two local fathers who are fighting to take dolphin meat out of the mandatory lunch meals fed to their children in local schools.

The film brings to surface (pun intended) issues affecting human health, international treatises, and ethics issues regarding the treatment of animals and conducting diplomacy. Producers of the film were successful in painting dolphins as sophisticated and intelligent creatures, potentially capable of feeling emotion and registering thoughts as humans do. By establishing their similarities to humans, the crew produced a more resonant message that, combined with the horrific practices that they shed light on, are sure to produce real change as more people view their documentary. Ric O'Barry's movement will certainly gain force and manpower, and I, personally, hope that this happens sooner rather than later. By focusing on individuals like Ric O'Barry, his divers, other volunteers, and the Japanese fathers, Psihoyos forcefully conveys to viewers that every person counts and can help turn around the dire situation that these wondrous creatures face.