The Cove(2009)
dir. Louie Psihoyos
A heist film to expose a hidden slaughter.
Where to watch: Free on Kanopy, Hoopla, Tubi, Plex, Roku Channel; rent $0.99-4.99 (JustWatch US)Letterboxd ↗
A team of activists, free divers and filmmakers sneaks into a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, to document the annual dolphin hunt that supplies aquariums and ends in a bloody slaughter. The film plays like a heist movie, with hidden cameras disguised as rocks. Winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
Why it’s here
The film shows how a captive-dolphin industry and a hidden killing depend on each other, and how a small group can drag it into the light. What's punk is the DIY infiltration. What's pedagogical is the follow-the-money thread. Note: the covert filming and the portrayal of Taiji residents have drawn criticism, so watch it as an activist film. Pairs with Blackfish.
Where This Film Lives
- Setting
- Japan
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