Just when you thought it was safe to take what's in the water for granted, illegal finning is wiping out the shark population. Toronto-based wildlife photographer and first-time filmmaker Rob Stewart spent five years on this ode to his lifelong aquatic obsession, which became a platform after Stewart fell in with Greenpeace co-founder Paul Watson and his merry crew of boat-ramming eco-pirates. Rather than paint a disembodied, March of the Penguins–style nature portrait—or what might have been fantastic in an unbiased director's hands: a film about Watson's fanatical crusade—Stewart is his own star, a would-be Speedo model and whoa-dude narrator whose droning reflections (one finned shark feels "like part of my family is dying") get in the way of his stunning underwater cinematography. No matter how much Jaws-hugging zeal he brings to the deck, Stewart has made a vain polemic that never addresses the finning industry's deep-seated cultural significance in Asia (where, rightly or wrongly, shark soup is a symbol of economic prestige), nor elaborates on how the disrupted ecosystem affects us humans.
This was a fantastic film, one that was long overdue and one that everyone should see. Hopefully the plight of sharks will become painfully obvious to the general public and the international movement to protect sharks will gain momentum just like those to protect whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals have in the past. It is sad to think that after millions of years the things that bring down such a perfect predator are human ignorance and greed. Lend your voice in any way possible. Every little bit counts.
Giovanni Rocco 11/08/2007 10:09:00 PM
WOW! That is what I have to say about this film. THE most impacting and emotional film I have ever seen. I cannot believe I did not know what has been happening with the shark population. I urge everyone to go see this movie because this is really a problem that does not only afect sharks humans as well and in a very dramatic way.
Nichole R 11/08/2007 10:05:00 PM
WOW! This was the most amazing film that I\ ve ever seen, and I hope that the whole world gets to see it. I did not expect to shed as many tears as I did, but the fisherman might as well have been slaughering puppies, it was so cruel! This film has motivated me to take action & write letters & do waht I can to save sharks, and I\ m sure it is making a huge impact around the world! Rob, thank you so much for making this film and opening our eyes!
Jim P 11/08/2007 10:03:00 PM
Before this movie I was totally oblivious on what really happens to sharks, I had always been told that sharks are very dangerous and that they will attack us if we are in the water. But now after seeing this movie �Sharkwater� I have found a huge respect for sharks. This movie has change the whole way to I think of sharks although I wouldn�t want to swim with them I can see that they have only been misunderstood by many of us . Thank you so much for this fantastic film.
Regina 11/08/2007 10:01:00 PM
Wow! I was speechless after watching this movie. I read and hear about what we are doing to the sharks, but the movie really brings the impact home. Thank you Rob Stewart!
Jennifer 11/08/2007 10:00:00 PM
Saw the film with my husband this past weekend. I cannot stop thinking about it and the plight of those beautiful, misunderstood animals. Furious at those who inflict suffering and cruelty for the sake of profit. Grateful that Rob has given us some insight into this problem and hopeful that now more will be done to save the sharks.
charles 11/08/2007 9:59:00 PM
An amzaing catch. Sharkwater allows us to see and literally feel the devastation that is occuring to some of our most majestic and complex creatures.
Charles Glover, Fightfortheright.com
ennz 11/03/2007 3:41:00 AM
I saw Sharkwater last evening (Nov. 1) in Cape Breton.
I have to say that apart from the handful of Imax-like sequences, some of which have been used in other "Discovery Channel" style programs, this is simply bad documentary film-making.
Stewart doesn't know what his film is about, although he tells you, ad nauseum, what he's showing. Just because you keep telling the audience doesn't make it so.
What should be: sharks are misunderstood, much maligned, gratuitously slaughtered and nobody cares because they're not as cuddly as pandas becomes, instead: Zoolander gets a camera.
While portions of the underwater footage are mezmerizing, Stewart makes himself an embarassing star of the film (must be seen to be believed) along with heavy-handed manipulative music sequences that make the film unintentionally comic instead of focusing on his POV polemic. Steve Zissou where are you?
There are many jumping off points for discussion/revelation, but the film-maker's constant self-insertions and "Keanu Reeves" voice-over diminish a well-intentioned premise into a mockery of advocacy filmmaking.
(In contrast, our screening was preceeded by a presentation of research into shark feeding of seals off Sable Island that was stunning and left you wanting more. "Sharkwater" paled in comparison in focus, organization, presentation and conclusion. Better luck next time. Wait for the DVD.).
