Filmmaker Morgan Matthews joins the crew of the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza as it sets out on its mission to locate the Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru and peacefully prevent it from killing and processing whales. Hunting the ship are a crew of activists from Greenpeace all of whom have different backgrounds and opinions but are united in their goal of preventing the slaughter of whales. Matthews follows this people across the eventful duration of their mission.
On the surface of it one could be forgiving for assuming that this film would be all about people getting in the way of harpoons as they try to prevent whales being killed. Indeed this is how everyone starts out on the Esperanza and certainly this is what Morgan Matthews must have thought he would be getting. As it is the film has nothing of the sort and the only footage of action or "battle" is taken from Greenpeace archives or from the "other" ship that is in the area. Instead what happens is that disaster befalls the whaling ship and Greenpeace actually have to go and help, spending weeks with the stricken craft to help it out. It is a surprising twist on events but not one that Matthews really make the most out of.
Although this disappointed me it did not surprise me because Matthews is best known for his "quirkumentaries" where he focuses on a group of unusual characters and they are his film rather than the sport or activity they are taking part in. Here I wanted him to push those around him and really ask questions of their beliefs. There are cracks to be exposed about the differences between the crew members, their rather snotty attitudes toward the other ship that takes more violent action and of course how they feel about recovering the ship they are trying to stop however although he sees them, Matthews doesn't go after them.
The result is a reasonably interesting film when looking at the characters in the build-up but seems to chicken out of it when it comes to the point where it could have really done something. Why I'm not sure. Maybe Matthews was too close to his subjects after being at sea with them to be able to push them for their opinions. Certainly if I had been told that my subjects had been briefed on what to say and not to say then I would have tried to do more to work on the more open members. As it is though the film still has interest in the realm of Matthews usual quirkumentary approach just a shame that he cannot seek out what was there for the taking and seems content with just getting a few characters on camera.
Worth a look for what it does but is disappointing for what it fails to do.
On the surface of it one could be forgiving for assuming that this film would be all about people getting in the way of harpoons as they try to prevent whales being killed. Indeed this is how everyone starts out on the Esperanza and certainly this is what Morgan Matthews must have thought he would be getting. As it is the film has nothing of the sort and the only footage of action or "battle" is taken from Greenpeace archives or from the "other" ship that is in the area. Instead what happens is that disaster befalls the whaling ship and Greenpeace actually have to go and help, spending weeks with the stricken craft to help it out. It is a surprising twist on events but not one that Matthews really make the most out of.
Although this disappointed me it did not surprise me because Matthews is best known for his "quirkumentaries" where he focuses on a group of unusual characters and they are his film rather than the sport or activity they are taking part in. Here I wanted him to push those around him and really ask questions of their beliefs. There are cracks to be exposed about the differences between the crew members, their rather snotty attitudes toward the other ship that takes more violent action and of course how they feel about recovering the ship they are trying to stop however although he sees them, Matthews doesn't go after them.
The result is a reasonably interesting film when looking at the characters in the build-up but seems to chicken out of it when it comes to the point where it could have really done something. Why I'm not sure. Maybe Matthews was too close to his subjects after being at sea with them to be able to push them for their opinions. Certainly if I had been told that my subjects had been briefed on what to say and not to say then I would have tried to do more to work on the more open members. As it is though the film still has interest in the realm of Matthews usual quirkumentary approach just a shame that he cannot seek out what was there for the taking and seems content with just getting a few characters on camera.
Worth a look for what it does but is disappointing for what it fails to do.
