AND A HEART-WARMER TO ROUND IT OFF : "DOLPHIN TALE"

Ok, so, this little lady, the hero of this real life story, is not really dangerous. She’s quite something though; she is a force to be reckoned with. Trouble is she is not actually human either. Some of you might remember the story of Winter, a dolphin in Florida. The film is inspired by her story, although I strongly suspect some of the characters are added on, the main bulk of the story – Winter’s story – is very much a reality. Sawyer is a bit of an oddball. He isn’t good at sport, he isn’t social, and he is kind of closed and quiet. He is nothing like his older cousin Kyle, a successful swimmer, now going into the army, social and outgoing. He is quite content living in a world of his own until coincidence means he runs into a dolphin, trust up in the ropes of a crab trap. She is badly injured, the rope has cut off most of the circulation to her tail and she seems to have lost the will to live. Luckily the marine hospital and aquarium are close by so the dolphin is delivered into safe hands. For Sawyer, this is a revelation. He literally cannot keep away from the marine hospital and in time becomes friends with Winter and the whole staff there including Dr. Clay and his daughter Hazel. The thing is, Winter’s injuries mean her tail has to be amputated. And with the marine hospital risking shutting down due to lack of funds, will anyone want to lend a helping hand /fin to an amputee dolphin? Now, any of you who have actually followed the story in the news pretty much knows what happens. But honestly this is not the main attraction of the film. The story itself, like I said is basically made up – not the winter bit, I strongly suspect the characters around it though. The “lost” boy finding himself through the company of an animal (Free Willy – anyone? And that’s only the latest incarnation) is by no means original. Hazel’s mother – Dr. Clay’s wife – is dead. Sawyer’s father left when he was five. Hint, hint. There is a goofy mascot running around the place (isn’t there always – a rogue pelican of all things). There is a wise grandfather, guiding the way. The two 11 year-olds – a girl and a boy – are clearly each other’s’ true love – they just don’t know it yet. The hospital WOULD be risking shutting down. And as you can probably imagine the cousin comes back from the front injured and depressed (rightly so I might add) but Winter “nurses” him back to life too. Which would be fine in itself if she already hadn’t nursed Sawyer back to life, i.e. they used the same trop twice. It works but I mean, still. Anyway, you get the picture, all the clichés of a feel good movie, and then a few. But it is a true story. The real Winter actually “acts” in it as herself so watching her is fun. And there are quite a few “aww” moments where I went a bit dewy eyed. Not least when Winter turns upside down to show the depressed and now disabled Kyle her amputated stump as if to say “Look, I’m like you”. I just welled up, I will not lie. It’s a good ‘un all in all. I mean it’s not high art. But who cares. Get a glass of wine, a box of chocolates, a couple of good friends and go “aaah” at it. It’ll go down a treat.

THE COVE

Ok , so while we’re on the subject let’s stick to Oscar® winners. Obscure Oscar® winners – say Best Documentary 2010 ? Oh hang on, you heard of it? Yeah, I mean The Cove. If you heard of it, this would not surprise me actually – pick a festival that gives awards to documentaries, The Cove has either been nominated or won something… Now, this has been and always will be a blog dedicated purely to films (or occasionally books) and cinema (or literature as the case may be) and reviews thereof. But I strongly – VERY strongly – suggest you watch The Cove purely for “educational” purposes. This is ecology, the only planet we have to live on – and it’s important.

Now, do you guys remember Flipper ? (Flipper, faster than liiiightning). She (well, technically “they” – there were five Flippers in total) was the pioneer of a new form of entertainment – Dolphin Parks. You know the sort, dolphins jumping through hoops, clapping, amusing us with their seemingly human smiles. Hell, they even look happy – surely there’s no problem there, right ? Well, ok, let’s ask an expert just to be sure. Ric O’Barry for instance. He would know. He was after all the original Flipper’s (all of them) trainer and their “keeper”. And his life is still dedicated to dolphins. The freedom of dolphins. He is trying to painstakingly undo the harm he himself instigated. You see, “The Cove” is an actual cove in Japan. It is quite infamous in the underworld – it is where poachers “herd” wild dolphins. Trainers from parks all over the world gather there to select the dolphins for their respective parks. And the rest ? Oh I think you have a pretty good idea what happens to the rest...

Disclaimer : The Cove is not for the faint of heart. But personally I think you should watch it even if you feel like crying and /or throwing up. As I watched The Cove I was, naturally, overwhelmed with sympathy for the dolphins. But spare a thought for our guide and narrator : Mr O’Barry He is obviously and understandably distraught by the misery he indirectly caused. His case is, in fact, a very good example of the human condition in a way. We live our lives, some of us with very little or no concern for our environment. We do not consider the effects of our actions on plants or animals. If we knew better, maybe we too would raise the black flag and wage war on “the system”. In short this film will bother you but undoubtedly push you to seriously think about our planet. And this cannot be a bad thing…