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Tense docu-thriller exposes the cruelties of commercial whale trade

Orca – Black & White Gold digs deep into the dirty waters surrounding the killer whale trade and captures a daring rescue mission

By Katie Smith-Wong

30 October 2024

Film still from Orca - Black and White Gold.

Orcas in the Sea of Okhotsk, off Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula

James Blake/Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust

Orca – Black & White Gold
Sarah Nörenberg
Terra Mater Factual Studios Distribution pending

When it comes to orcas, also known as killer whales, films such as the documentary Blackfish and family adventure Free Willy have shown the distressing effects captivity can have on their behaviour, especially towards humans. Real-life cases include Tilikum, who was involved in the deaths of two trainers, one at Sealand of the Pacific, in British Columbia, Canada, the other at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, and a trespasser at the…

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