To be honest, I thought that with the reputation the film has had and from what I'd heard about it before watching it that it would have focused a lot more on the actual violence against the dolphins than it did. Granted, what they did show was still pretty appalling (really, who wouldn't be horrified at the sight of a large bloody pool of water or a bloody dolphin trying to escape), but for the most part they focused more on getting prepared to take the footage, the hazardous effects of the dolphin meat on humans, and the cover-ups and excuses by the Japanese government and other residents of Taiji. The effect of the actual violence is amplified by showing that dolphins are far more intelligent that many people give them credit for (and the story that caused O'Barry to rail against keeping dolphins in captivity is just tragic)
Another thing that causes outrage is how they are actually able to take the much more hazardous dolphin meat and put in with the rest of the whale meat, and just how few Japanese people are aware of it. That said, Mr. O'Barry's campaign has had an impact by actually causing more protesters to show up at Taiji, and people are starting to get more aware of the problem.
I agree with u in saying that this is film quite tragic, on many different aspects. First being that these Japanese fishermen are not only over-harvesting these creatures, but they are doing so in such an inhumane way. The effect of violence portrayed definitely gave this documentary more of an emotional appeal, especially for O'Barry who devoted his life to these intelligent creatures. Secondly, this film is quiet tragic because it illuminates the dangers of mercury in the dolphin meat. These Japanese fisherman do not understand the effects of bio-magnification (the rate at which toxins move up in tropic levels) in these top consumers. Unknowingly, the dolphin meat was added to excess whale meat, that created further issues. Overall, this film did a magnificent job in portraying what was really happening, and making the problem more known.
ReplyDeleteYour perspective on the issue of violence is interesting; although I will have to politely disagree with your take on the film. I believe that it was very necessary for the film makers to show just how secret the Japanese were trying to make their dolphin slaughtering. It brings an important aspect into light. One can only watch the torture of the dolphins so much before it becomes overwhelming and thats why I believe they broke it up into smaller parts. It remained effective but not too overbearing. Nonetheless, the film has a poignant affect on any person who watches it. It urges the viewer to do something which was the ultimate goal of the film.
ReplyDelete