A standing ovation rumbles to a close after Toronto’s final advanced screening of the heavily celebrated documentary, The Cove. The applause is split between admiration for the outstanding doc and the fact that Richard O’Barry and director Louie Psihoyos have taken center stage before the sold-out crowd. Several minutes pass before everyone finds their seats to participate in the Q & A session, mediated by Canada AM’s Richard Crouse. O’Barry and Psihoyos manage to navigate the queries with relative ease. Their nonchalant posturing and responses make it obvious that they have encountered similar interrogation on the dozen or so festival stops over the last year.
As the final answer silences the last inquisitor, spectators begin to file out in an orderly fashion. While the majority of moviegoers are heading for the exits, several have formed a circle of praise around O’Barry and Psihoyos. Pictures are taken and compliments exchanged as two of the most popular dolphin activists in the world leave the Toronto Life Square’s AMC Theater. It’s at this point that the story goes cold for many of Toronto’s media sources but not for Toronto Film Scene. I managed to track down the cetacean saviors at an intimate afterparty, hosted by Roots, in the heart of Yorkville. The guest list was short and the security tight, as a select few awaited the arrival of what very well maybe the recipients of next year’s Oscar for “Best Documentary Feature”.
As I maneuvered through the schmoozing critics and distribution execs, I took a moment to admire one of the beautiful posters set up near the entrance of the second floor shindig. Ironically, not a moment after reading Richard O’Barry’s name did I happen to accidentally bump into him. He caught me off guard, in his nautical blazer, but I managed to recover gracefully with a heartfelt compliment on a job well done. I proceeded to tell him about the impact his film has had on the people of Toronto. O’Barry courteously allows me to recount a screening I attended a week prior at the Varsity theater only a block away. It was at this viewing that I witnessed one of the greatest emotional and vocal audience outbursts ever. Hysterical fits of crying were accompanied with angry verbal assaults on the film’s ruthless fishermen. The former dolphin trainer turned activist takes in the information he has just been presented with and responds by saying; “the film spares no feelings in getting it’s important message across”. A few more words are exchanged before he excuses himself to obtain a chilled glass of white wine. Eventually, director Louis Psihoyos graced the gathering with his appearance and was met with just as warm a welcome.
Festivities do not go into the early morning but do allow sufficient time for everyone to discuss one of the most invigorating environmental documentaries to have ever been made. I’m sure I can speak for everyone who had been in the presence of these two great individuals throughout the evening in saying they provide a sense of hope. Not only for the salvation of dolphins but for whatever cause you believe in, no matter how daunting.
