Blackfish
Short description
Blackfish is a documentary that examines the effects of keeping orcas in captivity. The film focuses on Tilikum, a killer whale involved in the deaths of three people, including experienced trainers. Through witness interviews and archival footage, the narrative explores the behavior of these intelligent animals and the circumstances surrounding the accidents that occurred in various aquatic parks.
The film was directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, who also co-wrote the screenplay and served as a producer. This was the first film listed in her directorial chronology, preceding Megan Leavey, Our Friend, I.S.S., and The Grab. The production was handled by Manny O Productions and featured a cast of 31 credited individuals, including Dean Gomersall, Samantha Berg, and John Jett appearing as themselves.
Released in 2013, the documentary earned 2 million USD at the worldwide box office. It was well received by both audiences and professionals. It holds a rating of 8.1/10 on IMDb based on 76,000 votes and 7.9/10 on TMDB from 1,217 votes. Film critics provided a rating of 8/10 based on 132 reviews, showing a consistent level of approval across different groups.
What's left behind the scenes
- Colin Trevorrow, director of the science fiction film “Jurassic World” (2015), openly admitted that he drew a lot of inspiration from Gabriela Kaupertweit’s film in his work, particularly regarding animal behavior in confined spaces.
- Tilikum exhibits “stereotypy,” i.e., the persistent aimless repetition of movements, which is often observed in animals due to prolonged confinement in a small, enclosed space.
- During his time at the oceanarium, Tilikum was placed in a pool containing 0.0001% (one millionth) of the volume of water that an orca swims through in a day in the wild.
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