Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 27, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Every year, 23,000 dolphins are killed in Japan away from public view. The documentary The Cove by Louie Psihoyos and the Oceanic Preservation Society brings this concealed madness to light. It documents the extraordinary efforts of American dolphin activist Richard O’Barry and the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. It also shows how closely the dolphin massacre is linked to the dolphinarium industry and reveals what the Japanese authorities want to conceal: dolphins are highly contaminated with mercury. Nevertheless, their meat is offered as a delicacy in Japan—even in dolphinariums.
The Cove moved and inspired Sundance audiences in a way exceptional even for that festival. The film repeatedly received standing ovations after screenings. It received the Sundance Audience Award based on votes cast by audiences after each film. The award expresses viewers’ conviction that The Cove deserves international attention.
Further Links:
- Film website
Further information
Further information
