142. The Islands And The Whales; movie review

THE ISLANDS AND THE WHALES
CERT 12A
81 mins
BBFC advice: Contains scenes of whale hunting

Whale hunting is a bad thing. Right? Well, you may not think so if you were brought up in the Faroe Islands, 200 miles north of Scotland.
Here, hunting whale to eat has been tradition since man first lived on this cold, remote outpost nearly 2,000 years ago.
Its inhabitants are aware that they are seen as barbarians for doing so but are unrepentant at their way of life which also includes hunting and eating sea birds in their tens of thousands.
However, it may be that their diet is now doing them physical damage because of the levels of mercury in whale meat and blubber.
Mike Day's film offers a clear conservation message but not in a manner one would expect.
For example, when high profile campaigners, including Pamela Anderson, come to the Faroes to try to stop the whale hunting, they make themselves look ridiculous because of their simple lack of understanding of the people.
For example, during a testy press conference, one of the protestors suggests that the islanders should become vegetarians.
It is then pointed out that it is impossible to grow vegetables and that they are all imported at a cost to the environment.
The more salient messages are from a local doctor who demonstrates the alarming rise in mercury levels in the meat which the Faroese eat.
Nevertheless, imparting the bad news gives him little pleasure because he, too, respects the island traditions.
Ironically, by hunting and eating whales, the Faroese have demonstrated the pollution which industrial nations have been inflicting upon the seas.
The latter are killing wildlife to the point of extinction by poisoning the seas with chemicals.
It is a fascinating argument and one which is sure to prompt further debate.

Reasons to watch: An illuminating slice of Faroe Island history and culture
Reasons to avoid: Explicit killing of whales and birds

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Director quote - Mike Day: "The film was well received in both the whaling and anti-whaling communities. There should be a uniting common cause in the message of the film and, while there will be no agreement between the sides on the issue of killing of whales, all agree that the insidious polluting of the seas is a threat to marine life and human life alike."

The big question - Will man understand nature before it is too late?

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