| Director | Gabriela Cowperthwaite |
|---|---|
| Genre | documentary film |
| Runtime | 83 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1.5 million |
| Box office | $2.3 million |
at SeaWorld Orlando in 2006]] The documentary concerns the captivity of Tilikum, an orca involved in the deaths of three people, and the consequences of keeping orcas in captivity. The coverage of Tilikum includes his capture in 1983 off the coast of Iceland and his purported harassment by fellow captive orcas at Sealand of the Pacific. Cowperthwaite argues these incidents contributed to the orca's aggression.
The film includes a testimonial from Lori Marino, director of science with the Nonhuman Rights Project. Cowperthwaite also focuses on SeaWorld's claims that lifespans of orcas in captivity are comparable to those in the wild, a claim the film argues is false. Other people interviewed include former SeaWorld trainers, such as John Hargrove, who describe their experiences with Tilikum and other captive orcas.
The documentary argues that the wild-caught orcas experienced extreme stress when captured as juveniles, and spending a lifetime in aquaria being forced to perform and breed led to aggression toward other orcas and humans. The film features footage of Tilikum's attacks on trainers and other captive orcas as well as interviews with witnesses.