The Cove

Director: Louie Psihoyos
(2009)

Every year, approximately 2,300 dolphins are brutally killed in a small, secluded inlet on the coast of Japan. The Cove is a documentary that examines these appalling executions. The film was screened at Tribeca's "Docs on the Shortlist" weekend film festival earlier tonight.

The inspiration for the film came from Richard O'Barry, the man who helped train the five dolphins who portrayed Flipper. O'Barry had an intimate relationship with dolphins, and eventually came to the realization that they were self aware. This epiphany led him to turn on the industry that he was such an influential part of, and fight against the captivity of dolphins.

Part of what makes The Cove such a strong film is that it touches on so many issues. Not only does it delve into the mass murder of the dolphins of Taiji, but it examines the dangers of mercury poisoning, the buying of votes by Japan in the International Whale Commission, and questions why the government of Japan has allowed these atrocities to occur.

Louie Psihoyos (right) and Fisher Stevens (center) spoke after the screening

The filmmaker is quite passionate about conservation. During the Q & A following the screening, Psihoyos, who was a photographer for National Geographic for 17 years, noted that he has a 100% electric-powered vehicle (somehow in a non-preachy manner, I might add) with a vanity plate that reads "VUS," representing Vehicle Using Sun (he pointed out that it's SUV in reverse). He felt that perhaps a more ominous issue than the one addressed in The Cove was the threat of global warming on plankton, which is responsible for 2 out of 3 breaths that we take. While it may not be as easily translated to film as the photogenic marine mammals, Psihoyos may turn his sights to the small drifting organisms for his sophomore release.

The Cove has already made a difference. There was recently a temporary ban on killing bottlenose dolphins in Taiji. With the recent release of the DVD (purchase it on Amazon), the film should reach a wider audience. The more people that watch the film, the stronger the opposition will become to these heartless fisherman. Psihoyos advised the Tribeca audience to use whatever platform is available to promote the film and push the agenda. So I say to you: watch the film (trailer is below), sign the petition, embrace the cause, and enlist your friends to fight against the brutal massacre of these incredible creatures.



official film site

Trivial Tidbits:

• Dolphins can hear frequencies ten times or more above the upper limit of adult human hearing, though it is believed that they lack a sense of smell

Man on Wire

Director: James Marsh
(2008)

Much praise deserves to be extolled upon this documentary, which won the “Best Documentary Feature” award at the 81st Annual Academy Awards earlier this year. In fact, 100% of the 141 reviews gathered by Rotten Tomatoes are deemed to be positive appraisals. So at the risk of sounding redundant or trite, I offer my own thoughts on the film...

When I first heard the title of this film, I immediately questioned whether the filmmakers would be able to keep the audience engaged for 90 minutes with such a seemingly pedestrian act. My apprehensions quickly dissolved. The structure is laid out early on, with focus alternating between convincing reenactments of “le coup” (Petit's code word for the event), gripping stock footage of the Twin Towers being built, vintage film clips of the team preparing for the siege, and brilliant 16mm footage of Mr. Petit accomplishing stunning feats atop other worldly landmarks. The montage is elegant, as the various acts meld together like a walk through a carnival.

Petit proves to be a worthy protagonist, with his unbridled enthusiasm and strong storytelling prowess. He controls the tone of the film, building tension as he recalls vivid details from decades ago. He takes on the role of performer with ease (you may recall he performed a magic trick at the podium moments after receiving the Oscar). Not only was he fortunate enough to have been born with and to discover this gift within him, but he is bold enough to perform on the most beautiful stage conceivable. The performance was downright profound, as it served as such a clear illustration of the limits of human achievement.

official film site

Trivial Tidbits:

• The titular wire weighed 450 lbs.
• Petit was later granted lifetime access to the Twin Towers' Observation Deck.