‘The Cove’ – From Flipper, with love

The Cove in Taiji, Japan tucked away in a National Park and is a

A throwaway TV show from the ’60s is having far-reaching consequences on the way we see dolphins today.

“The Cove,” a 2009 film on most critics’ short list for Best Documentary, follows the man who helped train the dolphins for “Flipper.”

Dolphin wrangler Ric O’Barry didn’t realize at the time how the creatures who alternately played the title character ended up on the set.

Once he learned the back story, he became arguably the best friend a dolphin could ever have.

Dubbed an eco-thriller to juice up interest, “The Cove” works far better as a vibrantly shot advocacy project, one which yielded measurable results according to the film’s final moments.

“The Cove” is a small, gorgeous expanse of water in Taiji, Japan, but it’s more notorious as a place where dolphins are lured to be captured for our entertainment. Those who don’t make the cut are slaughtered for their meat.

Japanese officials find plenty of legal loopholes to keep dolphin hunt in operation.

Dolphin advocates argue the creatures represent an intelligent, evolved species that deserves man’s protection. But their crusade also involves protecting humans from dolphin meat which often contains high levels of Mercury.

A small but uber-active band of dolphin supporters, led by O’Barry, are doing whatever it takes to bring attention to their cause.

O’Barry and company go to extensive lengths to shed light on the cove in question. Sometimes that means sneaking to the location at night like a 007 film and installing cameras around the region to let others know what’s going on there.

It’s those sequences which are the most amazing to watch, as advocates use every method at their disposal – including a dollop of movie magic – to state their case.

Director Louie Psihoyos does include the voices of those who support the status quo – dolphin hunting, to be precise. But the film clearly zeroes in on those who fight on behalf of the dolphins. We also learn the politics behind dolphin hunting, with the film alleging Japan pays off smaller countries to support its actions.

But little is as powerful as the sight of beautiful waters turned an ugly red as the dolphin hunters ply their trade.

“The Cove” is beautifully photographed and impeccable detailed. It’s also rarely dull despite delivering heaps of information on the dolphin’s plight.

It may not be fair and balanced, but it’s eye-opening for those who never heard of “Flipper” or take it for granted when the pet a dolphin at the local aquarium.

(Photo: “The Cove” documents the efforts of dolphin advocates to protect the creatures from hunters.)