NEVER CAPTURE WHAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL.
This documentary argues against keeping animals captive, especially big, dangerous ones that we train and let people pay to see, by telling the story of Tilikum, a bull orca held at SeaWorld Orlando where he’s been responsible for three people’s deaths at three different occasions. By talking to experts and trainers, the filmmakers show numerous incidents involving captive killer whales and point at some of the reasons why this behavior persists. Footage of people falling victim to these massive animals is frightening and sad to behold. The filmmakers’ case is strong, and the success of this film damages SeaWorld’s credibility, but some of the arguments made are debatable (are Tilikum’s aggressive genes really passed on?), and some interviewees have denounced the film.
2013-U.S. 83 min. Color. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite.
