Based on true events that seem more fictional then the truth. A reporter stumbles over a story which ignites international concern for a family of three grey whales trapped in the ice. The events happened in 1988 in a small town in Point Barrow, Alaska. The movie follows the efforts of a number of opposing forces who work together to free the whales.

Soul Stars – Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski

What we like

• A wide range of likely and unlikely people come together for their own reasons but pulling together for a common objective to free the whales. Incredibly these groups include native Inupiat people, an oil company, United States Military, Russian ice breaker, Green peace activist, the American President and de-icing entrepreneurs from Minnesota.

Soul experience

• There is no doubting that this whole effort to save the whales was strongly influenced by the willpower of Cindy Lowry who is the real Greenpeace activist that was present at the events. However, it was the media coverage of 150 reporters which acted as a catalyst in raising awareness of the whale’s plight. So many events that happened were quite extraordinary one of which is the somewhat incredible feat of the breathing holes. Locals and volunteers came together to carve holes in the ice spanning nearly 8.5 km / 5 miles so that there were breathing holes to a path that led to the open sea. So it is interesting what we can do when there is a common goal and we are united for the final outcome

To reflect on

• Rachel: You have whales in trouble and you didn’t call me?
  Adam: I didn’t call you because there’s nothing you can do.
  Rachel: There’s always something that you can do.
• Rachel: They’re so much like us.
  We get scared, we’re vulnerable and we need help sometimes to…

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