Blackfish: documentary review

Natalie Abraham

MDIA 1020

Analyze a Documentary: Blackfish

Blackfish is a fascinating documentary produced in 2013 that examines the life of a performance orca named Tilikum. This film follows the life of the orcas from their first hours of being tracked and captured in the sounds of Washington state. It has various interviews that are used as a narration throughout the film, of former SeaWorld trainers that explain their experience and understanding of the intellectual animals. Along with former trainers explaining their life with these wild beings there are members of the team from management and the capturing squad, but no one from SeaWorld accepted an interview. SeaWorld has been called into court many times during the years in order to be questioned about the amount of casualties due to these killer whale attacks. There is one tragic story in particular that is examined as the story goes and it keeps you wanting to know more about the animals and this puzzling catastrophe. Some may say that the orcas should be released back into the wild, however after over thirty years they will have no understanding of how to survive. There is still hope that although certain orcas have been held in captivity, there are still plenty of happy and healthy ones that will never have to experience a life such as Tilikum.