DOLPHIN TALE

US, 2011, 113 minutes, Colour.
Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Morgan Freeman, Austin Stowell, Frances Sternhagen.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith.

This is an enjoyable story, based on actual events. It could also be called Dolphin Tail, the focus of the drama in the film.

This is one of those films that can be recommended to parents and families. Not only is it designed to be suitable for all ages (though apparently it has a PG rating because of the treatment of the dolphin in trying to attach its prosthetic tale), it actually is encouraging for children to get an interest in life, something which engages their energies beyond sitting in front of a screen or playing video games, as the young boy’s mother tells his teacher, engaging with ‘something real’. With its focus on dolphins and caring for them as well as being creative with them, it entertains as well as inspires.

The setting is Florida, an aquarium that also serves as a hospital for injured sea creatures. Harry Connick Jr is the genial director. Morgan Freeman appears as a designer and maker of prosthetic limbs for wounded veterans who is asked to try to create a tail for the dolphin, Winter, who was caught in a crab trap and whose tail had to be amputated. At the centre of the film, besides Winter, is Sawyer, an 11 year old boy, played very well and unassumingly by Nathan Gamble. Children can identify with film easily - and parents will approve of him. He freed Winter and the dolphin responds better to him than many others. His mother here is played by Ashley Judd. And there is Kris Kristofferson as a rugged but genial grandfather. In her first film, Cozi Zuehlsdorff is full of verve as Connick’s daughter.

Besides the rehabilitation of Winter and the blossoming of Sawyer, there are some sub-plots (not a romantic one that we might have anticipated). There is another with a wounded veteran affected bitterly by his injuries but being inspired to choose something more for his life. But, as in this kind of story, the centre is stuck for funding and has to be sold to make way for a hotel. But...
Filmed in quite unobtrusive 3D, which is especially effective for some underwater sequences, the film is a pleasing entertainment.

1. The appeal of the film? Dolphins? Children? Family?

2. The film based on a true story, the dolphin itself and the loss of its tail and the scientific reconstruction?

3. The Florida settings, families, school, the aquarium? The detail? The musical score?

4. Sawyer and his age, his relationship with his mother, the absent father, a quiet boy, at school, introspective, his seeing the dolphin, freeing it from the trap, the effect on him? His bike, visits to the aquarium, getting in quietly, watching the treatment of the dolphin, Clay Haskett and his daughter? His friendship with Hazel? With the staff, with Reed? His rapport with the dolphin, calming the dolphin, communication?

5. His return home, his mother’s reaction, noting his energy, on the computer, his research, the information? His not going to school? The reaction of the teacher? His mother siding with the teacher? Discovering the aquarium with her son, meeting the people, his work, the energy? Telling the teacher that this was important, that he was out of the house, dealing with something real? The teacher’s later concession and giving him a pass?

6. Sawyer and Hazel, together, the story of their absent parents? Hazel as a strong-minded young girl, her initiatives?

7. Reed, the grandfather, Clay and his career, his knowledge? As a character?

8. The meeting of the board, the need for money, the selling of the aquarium, Clay and his being upset? The reaction of the children?

9. Sawyer’s family, his aunt and uncle and their visits, Kyle and his injuries, the background of American military involvement, injuries? The ward for rehabilitation, the building of limbs? Lorraine and Sawyer and their visit, Kyle not wanting to see them?

10. The encounter with Dr Mc Carthy, his work, the limbs, his inventiveness, the technology? The discussion about the dolphin?

11. Dr Mc Carthy’s visit, Clay’s reaction? The awkwardness? Studying the dolphin, Dr McCarthy? and the solution for the skin, the mechanical tail?

12. The failure, disappointment, the dolphin rejecting the tail?

13. The decision to raise money, the children and their idea, the preparation for the celebration, the approach to the media, the television coverage, the appeal, people giving money? The attendance? The visit of the mother and the disabled daughter and her seeing the dolphin?

14. The owner of the aquarium, enjoying himself, with his grandchildren, the change of heart? Keeping the aquarium open?

15. Sawyer and his realisation that the skin was a problem, like a seatbelt, restraining the dolphin, taking it away, freeing the dolphin?

16. The dolphin itself, audience identifying with it, its problem, the tail, the attempts to swim, refusing food, languishing? The tail, the experiments, the final success, performance?

17. The film as inspirational and uplifting, especially for children, the sense of humanity, the environment, the sense of achievement? And an involvement in the real world rather than the virtual world?