Louie Psihoyos' "The Cove" Set For Release In Japan

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Louie Psihoyos' Oscar-nominated dolphin-documentary "The Cove" has been picked up by a Japanese distributor and now is set for release in the country despite the controversy it already has stirred up, says Indie Wire.

According to Indie Wire: The Works International has announced the acquisition of Louie Psihoyos’s Academy Award-nominated documentary “The Cove” by Japanese distributor Medallion Media. Medallion is planning a tentative release date of April 2010 in Japan.

Until now, Japanese distributors have shied away from the documentary, which uncovers dolphin slaughtering in a Japanese village, and was the source of significant controversy in the country when it was included in the line-up of the 2009 Tokyo Film Festival.

Fishermen the town of Taiji, Japan--who are the subject of the documentary--took legal action against its potential screening at the Tokyo Film Festival last year.  However, their efforts were to no avail. The film was a hit, selling out within hours and forcing a second screening to be organized.

The Works International said in their press release: “Most Japanese are unaware of the annual dolphin cull that takes place in Taiji and also the significant risks of mercury poisoning from the eating of dolphin meat, which the film so effectively exposes. In spite of continued opposition from the Taiji fishermen, Medallion Media recognized there were many people keen to see the film.”

The film centers on an elite team of adrenalin junkies, filmmakers and free divers led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry as they embark on a covert mission to expose the international dolphin capturing trade in the town of Taiji. While there, they uncover more than they bargained for.

I watched the film about a month ago, and I have told everyone I can that they should see it. The extent that the filmmakers went to get the footage is remarkable, and the images they captured are indescribable. In my opinion, it should be the hands-down winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary.