charlyparly

Have seen and been dismissive of this largely expecting it to be another PETA type documentary that serves up another highly emotive and largely inaccurate picture of Keiko's freedom and happiness in the wild which they frequently do as though he lived in an underworld of rainbows and sunshine sprinkles. It's either that or doom mongers that make out he was tipped into the ocean and left to die.

For whatever reason I decided to watch it and was actually surprised to find it was an in-depth and interesting account of Keiko's initial capture, how he was unusually young to be taken from the wild - possibly the result of accident and opportunity than intentional taking of a calf not yet weaned. It features interviews and refreshingly honest details from reputable well known sources, marine biologists, anti captivity campaigners and individuals from the foundation who discuss Keiko's capture, life in captivity lived right through to what was a successful failure in efforts to release him entirely back into the wild.

There isn't the rose tinted emotive inaccuracies and actually, it provided info which really paints the marine park in Mexico where Keiko was found and Free Willy filmed in a much more positive light than I'd expected. It detailed how they were the only marine park that would even consider Warner Bros request to use their park and orca seemingly not worried or concerned about the political aspect of agreeing to be involved with a film highlighting the plight of captive orca.

Knowing they had to move Keiko sooner rather than later anyway as he was continuing to grow and already too big for their small tank, it would provide the financial means and resources to secure a better facility for him and allow them some extra money to make improvements overall in the park. For that they deserve absolute credit.

Prior to filming and with the benefit of the best veterinary professionals Warner Bros could afford, simple and relatively basic changes to how Keiko was cared for and kept made a massive difference i.e. Installing a chiller to keep the water at a cooler temp more suited to his needs, better quality of fish and advice / help ensuring water levels were kept continually monitored. That alone seemed to make drastic improvement to Keiko's health and whilst filming took place he remained in the same park and the same tank but with a considerably improved health and renewed energy levels and interest.

During filming he was completely engaged, interested, keen to work with the trainers and enjoyed the challenge and stimulation that daily filming brought.

Warner Bros saw fit to at least arrange for Keiko to be moved to a better facility that could care for him given the box office hit and money made from Free Willy which again I hadn't realised they started the ball rolling and secured an alternative where he was transferred. The difficulty seemed to be that neither they nor others that got on board and involved with his move realised the full extent, time, effort, expense and huge multi-disciplinary effort it would take to have him rehabilitated even to the point of being near ready for a sea pen sanctuary.

There is the definite feeling that because of the massive global campaign and media interest, the foundation reliant on public donations and Keiko's unusually young age at the time of capture, he would probably never have been a suitable candidate for a full release back into the wild.

With the benefit of hindsight 30yrs down the line it is apparent he would have been perfectly happy and probably enjoyed a good quality of life had he just remained in a sea pen / sanctuary under the care of humans.

It gives good insight into what could still happen for the remaining captive orca and other whales and dolphins if they are able to begin the process of transferring and being introduced to other facilities and eventually moved to sea pens and sanctuaries.

In reality very few if any captive orca will be suitable for a full release and reintegration back into the wild but they could all be given a new entirely improved quality of life, enjoy the swells and tides of the open ocean with vast areas to roam and remain under human care and supervision.

It was sad that Keiko never fully reintegrated or stayed with any pod despite following and attaching himself to more than one and for some time. He still seemed to need and crave human companionship most and in some ways must have felt abandoned and wondered what he did wrong particularity when legislation was introduced preventing him from being approached or interacted with in a similar way they did with Luna.

This documentary however doesn't just paint his last year or two as being perfect and rosy or lonely and alone. It just gives honest, insightful and very thought provoking information which if we took and used as a means of going forward and progressing from the captive marine parks as they are now, we could really make drastic improvements and maybe even redeem ourselves as humans righting some of the many wrongs for good measure.

Highly recommended hidden gem that's worth a watch.

Went into this completely open minded having no idea what the film was about and hadn't even heard of it before but it was on BBC iPlayer late when I couldn't sleep. I'm partially deaf and watched mostly without being able to hear which is just as well cos I don't care for jazz and would have probably found the jazz heavy, lengthy drum rape a bit too much.

As a musician and former student to an abusive, vile bully like this, I got what it was doing or aiming to do and distinctly felt a lot of what the students felt during classes. I just didn't buy into the characters or their stories at all.

Initially I bought Andrew's desperate hopes to impress this legendary music teacher everyone fears but respects. I recognised and bought Fletcher's abrasive and vile personality, the harsh, unnecessary and physically abusive practices because I know that very sort one of whom was head at the school of music I attended.

It all went tits up and lost me when the two characters became unbelievable and did what would directly contradict and conflict with their natures. Fletcher's abuse increases to physical violence and assaulting students one of whom we later discover has killed himself and it wasn't checked or picked up on at all until things reached a head with Andrew who pasted him and was kicked from the school but not before helping to bring a case and see Fletcher loses his job.

Andrew has given up on his dreams and drums but happens to stumble on Fletcher playing in a bar and I bought his initial intrigue, curiosity or willingness to at least speak with his former teacher. Fletcher seemingly having awareness and acknowledging his faults was immediate suggesting it was genuine because his vile temper and inability to curb and control it wouldn't have enabled him to think so quickly on his feet and have that whole act ready to roll out.

When he invited Andrew to join him, this confident, self-assured kid that flattened him in front of everyone and cost Fletcher his job suddenly became the keen, eager and totally naïve young first year student all over again. He'd been robbed of his dreams and given up on his passions solely because of Fletcher so it made zero sense to me that he'd allow him the chance to do it all over again in a hurry - and yet he did.

When Fletcher was setting him up for complete failure and humiliation, I could see how that might happen but not how things went from there.

Andrew had the balls to refuse to let Fletcher win, goes back on stage, picks up his sticks and drums like it was the last time he'd ever drum which fit his character.

Fletcher has a few brief outbursts in anger then suddenly takes Andrew's sheer defiance and attitude as something worthwhile, visibly reacts and encourages Andrew to really go for it which he does.

Then two men are supposed to have met each other on equal playing fields, found mutual respect with Andrew the next Charlie Parker and Fletcher the reason for it? That just would not have happened.

I know teachers, trainers and instructors in many areas and disciplines that believe you have to push someone harder and beyond what they think is their limit in order for them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. I'm sure there's an element of this being true and in many cases an approach that does work because you have to step outside the comfort zone to find where the magic happens.

This level of accepted bullying and abuse is pretty common in the performing arts and as I say, it's something with which I have a lot of experience but it's much less obvious, seldom physical, usually a psychological, emotional stripping of someone's confidence and self-assurance under the guise of them only aiming to push students so they can reach their full potential.

I would have believed and been on board were Fletcher either less physical and / or if Andrew had less balls which would account for him putting up with Fletcher.

Neither of the two men would tolerate each other let alone discover a new, sudden mutual respect, understanding and appreciation on an equal basis.

Amazed at the low ratings and poor reviews seemingly from those missing the point.

I stumbled accidentally on this at 4am idling my way along Netflix and decided to watch given that it was only short and not overly taxing. It was really a beautiful and thought provoking glimpse into how these two tragedies affected those whose lives, calling and purpose is to be the ones offering the healing, supporting victims / bereaved loved ones and helping them to make sense of the most senseless act.

The lack of graphic detail or political viewpoint at either side is refreshing and the focus remains solely on how the tragedy affected these two priests and how they reached out to each other from opposite sides of the pond.

Father Bob visibly at the verge of breakdown was hard to watch and that simple email all the way from a fellow priest in Scotland to give support, thoughts and prayers must have been a huge comfort and did raise the question of how difficult it must be for those expected to be an unwavering support and have answers to the questions they don't understand.

It doesn't aim to review or pick up and renew the arguments about gun control legislation - it's half an hour long.

It's not a preachy religious half hour. It's not a political half hour either. It's purely from the heart of the two gents and others seldom considered as being in need of support.