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Behind 'The Cove'

  • 2015
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
3.7/10
272
YOUR RATING
Behind 'The Cove' (2015)
DocumentaryHistory

Negative media coverage on the never-ending whaling issue prompted first-time documentary filmmaker Keiko Yagi to find out more about the topic. With no budget, limited experience in filmmak... Read allNegative media coverage on the never-ending whaling issue prompted first-time documentary filmmaker Keiko Yagi to find out more about the topic. With no budget, limited experience in filmmaking, no fluency in English, but armed with a video camera and a strong desire to find out ... Read allNegative media coverage on the never-ending whaling issue prompted first-time documentary filmmaker Keiko Yagi to find out more about the topic. With no budget, limited experience in filmmaking, no fluency in English, but armed with a video camera and a strong desire to find out about the truth of the matter on whaling, Yagi started her research.

  • Director
    • Keiko Yagi
  • Writer
    • Keiko Yagi
  • Stars
    • David Hance
    • Katsunori Horihata
    • Joji Morishita
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.7/10
    272
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Keiko Yagi
    • Writer
      • Keiko Yagi
    • Stars
      • David Hance
      • Katsunori Horihata
      • Joji Morishita
    • 11User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos3

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    Top cast10

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    David Hance
    • Self
    Katsunori Horihata
    • Self
    Joji Morishita
    • Self
    Hideki Moronuki
    • Self
    Richard O'Barry
    Richard O'Barry
    • Self
    Louie Psihoyos
    Louie Psihoyos
    • Self
    Kazutaka Sangen
    • Self
    Simon Wearne
    • Self
    Lars Wolloe
    • Self
    Keiko Yagi
    Keiko Yagi
    • Self
    • Director
      • Keiko Yagi
    • Writer
      • Keiko Yagi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Cove
    8.4
    The Cove

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      In January 2017, 'Behind 'The Cove'' was awarded as Best Educational Film in Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, in India.

    User reviews11

    Featured review
    8/10

    A Long-Awaited and Fair Say on Food and Fishery

    When "The Cove" won an Oscar, I naturally thought that Hollywood is asking for a response from Japan. If an American filmmaker had a say against a movie about America, he/she would most likely make a film to express it.

    Unfortunately, that wasn't how the Japanese movie industry works. Of course, Japanese television was quick to respond. Among the many examples was an NHK "Close-up Gendai" episode, broadcast nationwide in Japan on July 6th, 2010, in which the program spent 30 minutes to explain in detail how specific scenes in "The Cove" were manipulated.

    In particular, "The Cove" mentions that Hideki Moronuki, Deputy of Fisheries, was fired. The program pointed out that he never was and still works for the Ministry. He again says so himself in the long interview in "Behind 'The Cove'".

    But it is also him, among others, who admits that the Japanese government never protested against "The Cove". Meanwhile, the Japanese TV shows never really got to be translated or uploaded to be shown internationally. And now at last a movie, in English language, is made from a Japanese point of view, ironically by people who are very new to filmmaking.

    A confusing part may be that, while "The Cove" focuses on dolphins and captivity, "Behind 'The Cove'" focuses more on whaling and food, and the link between the two isn't thoroughly explained. The international audience need to be reminded the facts that dolphin fishery indeed is not well known even in Japan, but that "The Cove" has somehow led more people around the world to speak against whaling.

    So "The Cove" insists that dolphin captivity itself should be banned. "Behind 'The Cove'" questions that, and upon digging into the issue it provides a thorough explanation on the average Japanese way of thinking about the Cetacea (which means ocean mammals including whales and dolphins). It also suggests that being vegan is one thing, but then it asks, of all the animals and regions in the world, why do viewers focus on the Taiji dolphins up to the point that it gained an Academy Award?

    I've always trusted the English-speaking media to be open-minded about different opinions. For example, Bono of U2 openly describes, in the band's biography, how he phoned Norway in the middle of their concert to protest against whaling. He mentions that the Minister of Fisheries himself took the call to justify themselves, and invited Bono to come to enjoy a whale steak together. U2 and the publishers let the statement be.

    This movie is called "Behind 'The Cove'", but you can just look at it as "another side of 'The Cove'". I can only wish for a refined version of this work. It's quite a friendly film that concludes with a simple question, "Who can judge which animal should be eaten or not?"
    • YukoK
    • Jan 30, 2016
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 25, 2016 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ビハインド・ザ・コーヴ 〜捕鯨問題の謎に迫る〜
    • Production company
      • Yagi Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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