Overview
If you're anything like me and you enjoy a good old fashion doco on an underdog taking on the big guys, you'll be keen to check out Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson.
Watson is described as the radical among radicals. In his absolute passion for saving the wildlife of the oceans he has been flagged as everything from a nuisance to a total hero.
This documentary tells the story of Watson's mission to save the planet and its oceans. The film follows the professional radical ecologist as he repeatedly flouts the law. Using verité sequences shot aboard his ship as a framing device, the documentary examines Watson's personal history as an activist through archival footage and interviews, while revealing the impact of this relentless pursuit on his personal life. From the genesis of Greenpeace to sinking a pirate whaling ship off Portugal, and from clashes with fishermen in the Galapagos to Watson's recent headline-grabbing battles with the Japanese whaling fleet in Antarctica, this film chronicles the extraordinary life of the most controversial figure in the environmental movement.
The advance screening on Tuesday is a fundraiser for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and will be followed by a Q&A with Paul Watson himself, no doubt an invaluable discussion to be a part of.
