A Battle Worth Learning About

Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
A Taste of Whale
–

Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 25m
Director(s): Vincent Kelner
Writer(s): Vincent Kelner
Cast: Jens Mortan Rasmussen, Torik Abraham Rouah, Lamya Essemlali, Runi Nielsen
Where To Watch: Available for pre-order on kinolorber.com (releases 5/31/22)

I wasn’t expecting what I saw in this documentary, and that’s putting it lightly. While I went into the film expecting another BLACKFISH (2013 documentary) style film, what I was given was a far more visual exploration of the activities of the natives of the Faroe Islands (part of the Kingdom of Denmark.)

Interestingly the film explores more than just the right vs. wrong aspect of the actions and focuses more on the why. While the film is very graphic, it offers a unique perspective while attempting to remain unbiased and give both sides a fair attempt at arguing their stance. While you have animal rights activists on one side, you have the locals on the other. “Grind” season is the ritual of killing hundreds of pilot whales; while not endangered, their numbers aren’t strictly known either. The rights activists claim that it’s too risky to be killing the numbers that the locals are; they also take issue with the somewhat brutal nature of the killings. At the same time, the residents claim that their methods are far more kind than other ways that animals are processed. I’ve seen enough documentaries to know that isn’t a stretch, although I’m unsure where to stand on this debate. I’m not a vegan or vegetarian; I regularly eat meat, and it would be hypocritical to say that this practice should stop.

It’s a unique angle to take on a documentary; usually, they focus more on the more significant mass-production-type aspects of animal cruelty prevention. This was aimed more at an individual location (that still kills many whales yearly, somewhere between 700-800.) While also respecting the culture, the documentary was able to play a balancing game between the two sides. It was stating facts without watering down the importance of preserving these animals.

I had mentioned previously, but I feel that it’s my responsibility to point out the film's graphic nature. I think it was essential to show the things that they did, though. If you’re easily squeamish or if the sight of an animal being killed or processed would upset you, I would suggest watching with caution.

This film defines why I don’t judge anything before seeing it. I thought for sure that I had this pegged, thinking that I knew what it was about and I was entirely wrong (at least about how they approached it.)

Thanks to Kino Lorber and Greenwich Entertainment.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.