The Islands and the Whales

In the remote Faroe Islands, inhabitants have hunted seabirds and pilot whales for millennia. An isolated culture based on food and folklore, the Faroese built their traditions around survival. "In the past, nature was giant and humans tiny... and now it's the other way around." Soaring aerial cinematography shows a community, historically dependent upon and devoted to nature, losing connection with the natural world. Native sea birds are disappearing and a local doctor discovers that marine pollution is making the whale meat toxic. Suddenly, their ancient way of life may have an expiry date. A surprise visit from celebrity animal rights activist Pamela Anderson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society injects a perceived cultural imperialism and ignorance into an already complex debate involving health, identity, environment, and human and animal welfare issues. The Islands and the Whales takes a stimulating sideways approach to the loss of environment and traditional beliefs. (Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival)