Sundance 2009: "The Cove" Review - Written by Mathius Mack Gertz

The Cove
Denmark, 2008, 90min., color
Genre: Documentary
Director: Louie Psihoyos
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe
Executive Producer: Jim Clark
Producers: Fisher Stevens, Paula DuPre Pesmen
Coproducer: Olivia Ahneman
Editor: Geoffrey Richman


In the 1960’s Richard O’Barry was the world’s leading authority on dolphin training, working on the set of the popular television show Flipper. Day in and day out, O’Barry kept the dolphins working and the TV audiences smiling. But one day that all came to a tragic end. The Cove, directed by Louie Shoos, tells the true story of how Shoos, O’Barry and elite team of activists, filmmakers and free-divers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in the town of Taiji, Japan, protected by both local and national government officials, that captures some dolphins for “sea worlds”, slaughters the rest, butchers the meat and then distributes the mercury tainted steaks and fillets to school children and consumers throughout Japan mislabeled as whale meat. Along the way, they record how they are threatened with arrest, prosecution, expulsion and physical violence. In addition, lies and distortion of facts by Japans representative to the International Whaling Commission are examined and exposed.

This is the highest example I have seen of activist journalism in quite some time. The risks taken, the quality of film produced and the story line written and edited are nothing short of awe-inspiring. A classic in its sub-genre. A must see for anyone who cares about our future and our children’s future on this planet. It is frightening to see first hand how a government can distort, manipulate and suppress. Particularly in this age of irradiated food, animal cloning and global warming Makes no difference if you are liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. At all costs, see this feature documentary. Five stars.