In the 2020 documentary film "The Walrus and the Whistleblower," directed by Nathalie Bibeau, we are taken on a journey through the emotional and legal struggles of former professional marine mammal trainer, Phil Demers. Demers was once a beloved trainer at Marineland, a long-running amusement park located in Ontario, Canada, where he formed a special bond with a walrus named Smooshi.
However, when Demers began to see neglect and mistreatment of animals, including Smooshi, he decided to speak out against Marineland's practices. As a result, he lost his job and was hit with a lawsuit from the park's owner, John Holer, who claimed that Demers was spreading falsehoods about the park. Demers responded by launching his own legal battle against Marineland, fighting for animal rights, and trying to rescue Smooshi from her captivity.
The film follows Demers as he navigates through the tricky legal system and attempts to raise awareness about the issues he witnessed at Marineland. We see a man who is deeply passionate about his cause, but also struggling with the toll that his fight has taken on his personal life. Demers is portrayed as a complex figure, full of contradictions - he loves and cares for Smooshi, but is also open about the fact that training marine mammals is not inherently ethical.
Throughout the film, we are also given a glimpse into the world of activism and animal welfare. Demers meets with other activists and experts in the field, discussing the ethics of the entertainment industry and the importance of transparency and regulation. We also see the ways in which social media has impacted Demers' fight, with many supporters rallying around his cause and helping to spread his message.
One of the most striking aspects of the film is the use of footage from Marineland and interviews with workers from the park. Bibeau includes a mix of archival footage and contemporary interviews, giving us an insight into the history of the park and how it has changed over time. The footage of Smooshi and other animals in captivity is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, highlighting the complex relationship between humans and animals in the entertainment business.
Overall, "The Walrus and the Whistleblower" is an emotional and thought-provoking documentary that raises important questions about animal welfare and the responsibilities of those who work with animals in captivity. Demers' story is a compelling one, and the film does a great job of creating a portrait of a man who is fighting against what he sees as injustice. While the film does not offer easy answers, it does invite viewers to consider the ethical implications of marine mammal training and to think deeply about the relationship between humans and animals.
The Walrus and the Whistleblower is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 54.
