Funded by the Oceanic Preservation Society (and directed by
one of its co-founders, Louie Psihoyos), The
Cove boasts a rather upfront propagandist agenda – stopping the slaughter
of dolphins, for food, in an infamous cove in Taiji, Japan. Yet as far as
one-sided activist works go, Psihoyos’ documentary is a quite stirring call to
arms against the senseless, copious murder of animals. The movement against
dolphin captivity is spearheaded by Richard O’Barry, whose quest to save
aquatic mammals is driven by guilt over having helped create a global maritime
park industry through his tenure as head trainer on Flipper. The Cove is a
four-headed beast, functioning as a portrait of O’Barry, a critique of
Japanese dolphin policy, a look into dolphins’ self-conscious intelligence, and
an espionage thriller replete with night-vision cinematography, hidden cameras,
and lurking villains that plays like a cross between Ocean’s Eleven and last year’s Man
on Wire. Psihoyos’ talking-head commentary pushes the proceedings towards
infomercial territory, and his discussion about Japan’s cultural impetus for
continuing to engage in internationally frowned-upon activities – their
clinging to “tradition” posited as a rebellion against Western hegemony – is
given too short shrift. Yet even if it amounts to merely the slaughterhouse
imagery one expected, the payoff footage of what really goes on in the
mysterious cove delivers a requisite sting. At times graceless, The Cove nonetheless forcefully
expresses, and correlates, O’Barry’s righteous fury, the International Whaling
Commission’s ineffectiveness, and Japan’s inhumane practices, which are
damningly depicted as merely one component of an international corporate system
driven by ruthless self-interest.
Comments