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Blackfish
2013 83 min United States of America PG-13 16+
★8.2
Documentary
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Trailers
Description
Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.
US Gross:
$2.07M
Worldwide:
$2.06M
Starring
Tilikum
Actor
John Hargrove
Actor
Samantha Berg
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2013
— Grand Jury Prize (Documentary)
BAFTA 2014
— Best Documentary Feature
Key opinion
Blackfish is a powerful and persuasive documentary that exposes the ethical failings and psychological consequences of keeping orcas in captivity. By tracing the life of Tilikum, the film effectively challenges the industry narrative and has successfully driven public awareness and corporate reform.
| Theme | The documentary serves as a compelling critique of animal exploitation by framing the captivity of orcas as a form of systemic abuse. | |
| Emotion | The film succeeds in establishing a strong emotional connection to the subject, effectively portraying the traumatic impact of separating orca calves from their mothers. | |
| Culture | The narrative makes a clear and urgent case for the dangers of captivity, filling a void in animal-liberation cinema by documenting the long-term, retaliatory consequences of confinement. | |
| Direction | The film effectively juxtaposes marketing imagery with behind-the-scenes reality to expose the hypocrisy of entertainment facilities. | |
| Originality | The investigation of SeaWorld's practices is seen by some as a meticulous exposé, while others note a lack of balance due to the park's refusal to participate. |