Battleship Antarctica 2008
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Producer n/a
Directed by Morgan Matthews
DVD, color, 50 min.
College - Adult
Environmental Studies
Date Entered: 06/08/2009
Reviewed by Geetha Yapa, Science Library, University of California, RiversideThousands of whales living in the Antarctic are being killed every year by Japanese whaling ships. Even though there is an international ban against commercial whaling, Japan has continued this practice amid protests from conservationists. For the last thirty years, the environmental group Greenpeace has been actively involved in efforts to prevent the Japanese whaling fleet from slaughtering whales. In Battleship Antarctica, the filmmaker joins the crew aboard the Greenpeace ship as they make their way to the Antarctic on a mission to thwart the whaling operations.
The film also highlights the activities of the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the differences between them and Greenpeace in approaching a common goal. It documents their encounters with Sea Shepherd group as they go in search of the whalers. Finally, when the whaling ship was located, Greenpeace ends up offering help instead of confronting them due to an explosion on board the Sea Shepherd’s ship.
While the documentary provides breathtaking views of the Antarctic, it also shows heartbreaking footage of whales being killed by the Japanese through archival footage. Since discussions about issues and aspects of life on board cover a greater part of the documentary, this film would be of interest to those who would like to go on similar expeditions.