The Cove

For a documentary, the Cove is highly dramatic and tense; and while there is great underwater footage, be prepared to be shocked.

Here is another movie with some connection to swimming. A band of activists, including expert freedivers, mount a secret mission to film a dolphin massacre in Japan. They lie to the authorities, hide from the villagers, and sneak into the famous “Cove” at night to plant underwater hidden cameras.

The film is made by former National Geographic photographer and founder of the Oceanic Preservation Society, Louie Psihoyos. He follows the anti-hunt campaign being waged by Richard O’Barry. The irony is that O’Barry came to fame as the handler of Flipper – the star of the 60s TV show. He actually lived with the main starring dolphin (Kathy) for many years, but it was the effects of captivity on the dolphin that changed his way of thinking – and turned him against keeping any cetaceans in captivity.

The Cove has caused more than its fair share of controversy. In Japan, the movie has been seen as hypocritical and even racist in some quarters, with protesters asking such questions as “why is it okay to kills cows, pigs and kangaroos but not dolphins?”

However, one of the key points made by the documentary is that the dolphin meat contains toxic levels of mercury, and is being forced into school lunch programs to bolster the dolphin industry. Councillors from the town eventually rebel to stop their children being forced to eat the dangerous meat.

This is an excellently made documentary, though not for the squeamish. It’s failing if any is that, because it argues one point of view, it leaves many questions unanswered – and those are the questions asked by the Japanese protesters.

The giveaway copy of The Cove DVD has been won by Kathy Kozina of Queensland.