This documentary presents a truly disturbing subject matter and isn’t easy viewing for those who are sensitive. The film centers on a secret operation undertaken by American conservationists who believe that fishermen in the Japanese town of Taiji are trapping and killing large numbers of dolphins in a secluded bay. Confronted with resistance from both the local population and government officials, this group is comm…

There's a small town in Japan called Taiji, and within it lies the Cove, a place where a shocking number—23,000—dolphins are killed annually. The process isn’t simply killing; it involves a brutal slaughter that occurs largely out of public view. I was aware that dolphins sometimes get caught unintentionally when tuna is being fished, but I hadn't realized people actively hunted them for food. To me, dolphins, lik…