Orcas, captured in the wild off Puget Sound and Iceland, are sold into captivity to be displayed at theme parks; one such killer whale, named Tilikum, is bought by SeaWorld from the closing Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia, mainly for breeding purposes--following a horrific incident wherein Tilikum killed a trainer during a performance. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite's scathing indictment of SeaWorld and its unconscionable practices shows clearly the inhumane treatment Orcas endure just to be displayed for show, and the footage of aggressive behavior by killer whales towards unprotected, sometimes uneducated eager young trainers is horrifying. The film is enlightening not only as a cautionary tale, but also as a document of how greed blinds corporations from doing the right thing. Heartbreaking and hard to watch, though edited at times with manipulative fervor--to get an extra rise out of the viewer. Nevertheless, essential viewing. **1/2 from ****
Review of Blackfish
