The World 's Last Whale

We have an amazing independent film group in Sioux Falls, called Cinema Falls.

They present a wide variety films, featuring movies that would never otherwise be shown here in town. I appreciate that they offer a lot of documentaries, which are my favorite type of film. Tonight's season opener 

was Blackfish, which is about orcas in captivity. 

I have to disclose that I had been to Sea World multiple times as a child and loved the shamu show. I had a stuffed orca, that was one of my favorite stuffed animals. I remember the save the whales campaign back in the 80's and didn't understand why it was important to protect them from both hunters and others. Tonight, I learned why the others were so awful.

http://youtu.be/w2vG_Ifu4zg

Blackfish focuses on one particular whale, Tikilum, who is the largest in captivity. He is notorious for being responsible for the death of a trainer at Sea World. 

http://youtu.be/SSq7LW3qu1k

Unfortunately, this was not the first incident. Two decades before, he was involved with the death of another trainer in Canada. But its not a condemnation of an animal in captivity going wild. Instead, it explores how that very captivity-for our amusement-causes, as an expert quoted in the movie stated, you'd go crazy too if you lived in a bathtub for 25 years.

http://youtu.be/0k8dxCqZOzA

The most powerful movies, in my opinion, are the ones that change your perspective and stirs you to action. In recent memory, there have been several, notable ones that have inspired change in my life. They include The Killing of the Bees, Forks Over Knives and the Invisible War. I can now add Blackfish to that short list. If you feel inspired to make a change, too, there is a petition on Change to make a positive difference: http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-sea-world-to-release-their-orcas-and-dolphins-to-ocean-sanctuaries#