"At The Movies

The Cove (G) * * * * *

Fishy Business!

By ROBERT WALDMAN

Determined people once in a while get to expose bad things. One small film unit will open the world’s eyes to some shady business dealings in The Cove, an unbelievably effective documentary from Maple Pictures now making waves at the Scotiabank Theatre and likely later at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking). Government practices come under the gun big time when dogged determination exposes a deep dark secret.

Off we go with a film crew to Japan to look into allegations of “mistreatment” of dolphins. Thanks to brave men and women director Louie Psihoyos takes his cameras deep inside a coastal Japanese fishing village. Local practices condoned by city officials and government operatives will make onlookers cringe.

Despite being a documentary Psihoyos makes this 92 minute movie seem like a thriller. Clandestine methods are used to infiltrate the lair of the perpetrators as we watch defenseless dolphins led to slaughter by a complicit local population and higher ups.

Smug in the extreme are the excuses given by Japanese officials who try to hide behind various procedural efforts at world organizations supposedly in place to protect wildlife – in this case whales. Stark images of the brutality of what goes on in the calm cove at Tiaji Japan make memories of the Maritimes’ Seal Hunt pale in comparison.

The Cove is truly a wake up call that shows the lengths some people will go to make a dollar. Led largely by actor turned crusader Richard O’Barry this is one tense movie that never lets up. Great insight is given to the preparations undertaken to mount this mission that comes off with such precision it’s a sight to behold. Danger is everywhere as the team of environmentalists must take on locals and officials who see nothing wrong with their chosen line of work. Too bad the dolphins have no say in the matter.

Vancouver connections to this undertaking include two divers and an appearance by Paul Watson. Numerous interviews and some stunts bring home the point of the lengths Japanese officials will go to keep this lucrative trade alive.

Usage of vintage footage from the classic Flipper television series resonates loudly in a film of changing viewpoints and the necessity to take action to keep a species alive.

Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com "