Although it is naturally different in form from works of fiction, the emotional field opened up by documentary film can be absolutely devastatingly powerful. Because it deals with things that are sometimes intimate, with questions that deeply surprise and ask us, about our relationship with the world, others and living beings. In this registry, the detection of black fish is obvious.
A fascinating documentary
On this day in February 2010, the daily orca spectacle at SeaWorld Water Park in Orlando, Florida, did not go as planned. Although thousands of tourists flocked to see Tilikum fly over the park, weighing more than 5 tons, the latter seemed more troubled than usual and drama ensued in the final minutes of the performance.
Trainer Dawn Brancheau, who is responsible for hosting the “show”, suddenly finds herself grabbed by the animal’s jaws and dragged to the bottom of the pool. He won’t make it out alive. During his 34-year captivity, Tilikum caused the death of three people. But why did the whale kill its train?
Exciting, poignant and traumatic at the same time, Blackfish offers its viewers an irrevocable awareness of the deplorable conditions of orcas in captivity, in the parks whose main attraction they are. Born to travel the oceans, often cut off from their natural environment at a very young age, they end up in closed pools in circles for the rest of their lives, greatly reduced compared to their peers due to their confinement.
The movie that changed things
A true cinematic punch, Blackfish was a huge success in the US for the first time: 21 million people tuned in on CNN when it aired in October 2013. It has had a significant impact on the water park industry, even if its impact is difficult to measure precisely.
According to a study conducted by Laure Boissat at the University of OxfordA year after the film’s release, SeaWorld’s stock plunged 33%, and in 2016 the park announced it was ending its orca breeding program, explaining that the current generation would be the last to remain in captivity. that Article from Le Monde. Despite these developments, many orcas are still kept in other parks around the world.
This documentary has an even greater resonance since January 5; The date when the famous Marineland park in Antibes, the largest in Europe, closed its doors for good after 55 years of existence. The closure is due to a sharp decline in attendance at the site and a 2021 law banning shows and cetaceans from December 1, 2026 in the area.
Want to see or watch Blackfish? It is available on Netflix. Note also that “Lux”, Blackfish 2: The Fight ContinuesReleased in 2019. It offers a new overview of the fight to free marine animals: the progress, the hopes, but also the new threats they face. It is available on Prime Video.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.