Rare is the film that will stir your heart to the degree that you feel changed after watching it. Even most documentaries in these days where facts often take a back-seat to theatrics are often designed to evoke an immediate passionate response and fall by the wayside.

Watching Whaledreamers, though, was something different.  The descriptions do not do the film justice.  What seems like a simple documentary about an aboriginal tribe in Australia whose beliefs center around the whales they have come to regard over the centuries as an integral part of their lives is actually much more. It draws the viewer in somewhat unsuspecting and without any theatrical accusations while at the same time making the case for how awful native people on nearly every continent have been treated by the European settlers who invaded.

Julian Lennon co-narrates this award-winning documentary which focuses on the Mirning Tribe in Australia.  He co-produced as well, partnering with friend and filmmaker Kim Kindersley, who gave up a decent acting career after experiencing restlessness in his life as an actor that propelled him to look for something more meaningful. That quest led to this film which begins by exploring the connection between humans and the whales (and to a certain extent dolphins) in the oceans of the world.  

However, Whaledreamers delves into much more than that as it explores the genocide committed by governments the world over and over against the natives to their lands once the Europeans came.

“They Came With the Bible in One Hand & Took the Land with the Other”


The Mirning regard the birth of white whale to be a sign and this triggers their impassioned plea to other indigenous tribes around the world to come together. More than 80 tribes are represented from across the globe in a gathering near the native land of the Mirning, from which they have been banned due to the relocation of another indigenous tribe relocated by the government.

The gathering has a deeper meaning as all the tribes seem to feel a sense of urgency at what is happening to the Earth and need to convey their message in a world where it seems to get lost among the noise. I found it sad that I never heard anything about this historic gathering before seeing this film. The nightly news will spend five minutes on the First Lady’s hairstyle or what fashion trends the newest Duchess of Cambridge is wearing, but nothing on something like this.

The cinematography in Whaledreamers is stunning and beautiful, as one would expect from a documentary such as this.  The underwater photography especially alongside the various whales in this beautiful area of the world is a sight to behold. The contrasts of the colors of the ocean and the black, gray or white of the whale makes for some fantastic imagery.

If there’s one problem with Whaledreamers it’s that it doesn’t always seem to have focus. On one hand, it wants to be about the Mirning people and their relationship to the oceans and the creatures within. On the other hand, it’s a film that sounds the alarm about what we are doing to our planet by covering these tribes coming together.  It’s also a film about a spiritual journey and a quest for wholeness on the part of the Director.  At times the film seems to not know where it’s going next.

Still, I found Whaledreamers to be touching and quite well-made.  The narration shared between Lennon and Jack Thompson is excellent. This touches quite nicely on a small corner of the planet that most people will not find themselves exposed to. It’s the perfect film to make someone sit back and reflect on one’s own contribution to the problem.


BONUS FEATURES

• Julian Lennon Interview
• Music Video “Saltwater”
• Original Feature Intro