ORCA

The Irishman Nolan is a skilled fisherman who decides to capture a live specimen of orca to sell it to an aquarium and make a precious sum of money. But his endeavor will not have a good outcome as during the hunt, he accidentally causes the death of a female orca with her calf still in her womb. From that moment on, the companion of the dead mammal decides to track down Nolan and his crew to avenge the death of his mate and his son. "The Killer Whale" is one of the first films born in the wake of Steven Spielberg's masterpiece "Jaws" to capitalize on its success and certainly manages to be one of the best products on the theme of killer animals. First of all, the choice of an orca as an animal to fear is excellent; orcas, in fact, in addition to being extremely exceptional mammals, are also equally dangerous. Indeed, as is also explicitly stated in the film, orcas are one of the ten most dangerous animals in the world, but beyond that, they are animals very attached to family relationships: first of all, they are monogamous animals (i.e., they stay with a mate for life) and then they also perform the role of exemplary parents. Moreover, they are extremely intelligent mammals and, like humans, have a sense of revenge. The film, directed by Michael Anderson, succeeds in every respect in involving the viewer and in some points almost moving them. The screenplay appears very solid and well thought out, and in several aspects it reminds us of Melville's masterpiece novel "Moby Dick" (especially the theme of the hard struggle between Captain Nolan and the large mammal). In addition to the story of the animal seeking revenge for what has been done to his family, the film also addresses more serious and real themes such as the terrible destructive nature of man (already addressed in other famous films like "King Kong"), who, blinded by the sole thirst for gain, does nothing but destroy and cause irreparable damage to the most beautiful things nature offers us. Anderson's film can also be remembered for the beautiful attempt to humanize the orca, which in this film appears more human than humans themselves, frequently showing close-ups of the mammal's eyes to make the viewer understand the various moods of the animal; but certainly the strong point of the film lies in the beautiful and moving music composed and conducted with mastery by Ennio Morricone, which manages to make countless scenes unforgettable (such as the initial dance of the orcas in the water or the scene where the pod of orcas carries the body of the dead mammal to the shore). An additional strong point of the film is the extremely convincing cast that features the presence of Charlotte Rampling (Angel Heart- elevator to hell) and a brilliant Richard Harris as Nolan, the Irish captain who, for the desire for gain, causes the death of the mammal, but who, unlike other films where those who seek gain at the expense of nature are portrayed as cold and selfish people, here Captain Nolan appears as a human and sensitive person, who recognizes his mistakes and understands and justifies the animal's revenge. In conclusion, "The Killer Whale" is an excellent film, well directed and magnificently interpreted, engaging and touching, and in which it is inevitable not to side with the mammal, because the true killer in the film is not the orca but man. A film to see.