Specials

Elusive and misunderstood killer whales are affectionately profiled in this documentary that follows intrepid researcher Ingrid Visser. Zipping around in an inflatable boat, responding to sightings phoned in to a hotline, Visser tracks pods of the animals as they cavort gracefully in the scenic waters of northern New Zealand. During her years of tracking the animals, Visser has been able to identify individual killer whales, or orcas, and we even see her interacting with one wild killer whale that seems to recognize and greet her. For many years, humans believed that killer whales would attack humans, but that fear turns out to be unfounded. Visser is usually in close proximity to the large creatures in the wild, but in underwater footage she is seen actually swimming among them. An energetic and engaging subject for a documentary, Visser displays a spirit in tracking the whales that is infectious. In interview segments she explains her fascination for the orcas, and provides insights into their behavior and her fears for their future as manmade pollution begins to seriously threaten their habitats.