Blog Assignment #6

            The Cove, released in 2009 and directed by Louie Psihoyos, is a compelling documentary about the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.  Often, when we think of a documentary, we generally think of a film that is dull, something we are forced to watch for educational purposes.  While The Cove is highly informative, it is certainly not boring.  It tells the tale of a team of activists who are trying to capture footage of the dolphin massacre occurring in a cove in Taiji.  The task would be simple enough if it was not for the fact that the Japanese working the cove will do anything, even murder, to keep their secret from leaking to the public.  From the beginning to the end, the film captivates our attention.  Two scenes in particular are very gripping, one which brings the most tension to the film and the other the climax.

            The most exciting scene in the film is when the team finally puts their plan into action.  They must set up hidden cameras underwater and in the cliffs surrounding the cove.  Upon leaving the hotel, the pressure already begins to build as a car starts to follow them.  They manage to evade the car, but as they are putting the cameras in place, they spot a patrol heading their way.  Not knowing what would happen if they were to be caught, they struggle to flee.  Watching this, our hearts begins to race along with the activists’.  Will they escape?  What will happen if they do not?  The Japanese at the cove murdered before, will they dare to do it again?  All of these questions linger in our minds as we watch on the edge of our seats.  The team does manage to escape, but just barely.  As the car speeds away from the cove, a sigh of relief is released.

            All of this has been building up to the climax of the film, the scene in which the footage caught by the hidden cameras is revealed.  All speculation is finally put to an end as the underwater camera captures the water turn from a sea-green to a blood-red.  Along with the activists, we watch as a group of dolphins is senselessly and cruelly put to death with the harsh jabs of harpoons.  Now we know the truth, but are we satisfied with this moment?  In a way, we are, but at the same time we are not.  While there is a sense of accomplishment because we finally know what really happens in the cove, we are horrified by the reality.  The footage we had been longing to see the entire film, we almost wish we had never witnessed.  There is a strange sense of fulfillment to the climax, a satisfaction we almost feel guilty of due to the violent nature of it.

            The Cove brings us on the activists’ journey with them.  We feel their fear, their anticipation, and their pain at the sight of the dolphins’ suffering.  The peak of the action and tension in the film holds us with baited breath, which we can tentatively release when the mission has been successfully accomplished.  Then we gasp in horror as the long awaited footage is shown.  We have waited the entire film to see this, so in that we are satisfied.  However, considering the carnage is still going on today, how can we truly be contented? 

Blog Assignment #5

            Koyaanisqatsi (1983), directed by Godfrey Reggio, is a very unique motion picture experience.  With only one spoken word in the entire movie, it is practically a silent film.  Because of this, the viewers are forced to step out of their usual movie-watching comfort zones.  Dialogue is a main driving force in the plot of most movies, so a movie without words, such as Koyaanisqatsi, is subject to much more personal interpretation and must therefore be watched more closely.

            Movies driven by narrative are generally easy to follow because what is happening is being described as well as shown, so movies lacking the explanation narrative brings must be watched more attentively.  To fully understand Koyaanisqatsi, the viewers must keep their eyes on the screen at all times.  If they do not, they could miss key images that explain the film’s point.  Because of this, the film may seem unappealing to some.  Dialogue makes a movie a significantly simpler source of entertainment.  Without it, viewers must think on their own instead of relying on dialogue to explain the plot, argument, or theme.

            Because Koyaanisqatsi forces viewers to think on their own, it can be interpreted in many ways.  My personal interpretation of the movie was that it showed how technology is taking over nature.  Personally, I think the movie showed technology in a negative light because it was significantly less beautiful than the images of nature.  The man-made structures looked gloomy and oppressive, while the canyons, oceans, and clouds looked freeing and magnificent.  Of course, the movie could be seen as the complete opposite.  Some could say that the movie is celebrating technological advancement because it allows humans to live much more efficiently.  Many scenes do show the effectiveness of artificial machines and structures, such as scenes portraying factories and highways.  The use of sped-up images exaggerates this efficiency even more.  However, I believe this very exaggeration is what swings the argument in the other direction.  It shows that technology has, in a sense, stopped humans from enjoying life to the fullest because we are rushing through it.

            Koyaanisqatsi is a different approach to movies that many people will not appreciate simply because it is not what they are used to.  It has the potential to confuse viewers who do not realize that this movie must be watched differently from narratives.  By paying careful attention to the visuals, one can form his or her own opinion on the movie’s story.  People who remember the silent movie era or still enjoy watching silent films will certainly appreciate this movie and understand exactly how it must be viewed.  If one keeps an open mind and watches closely, Koyaanisqatsi can prove to be an enriching and entertaining experience.