Lolita: Spirit in the Water

Although it's never mentioned in this video, the success of Free Willy has certainly spurred interest in having orcas (killer whales) returned to their natural habitats, or at least placed in decent environments. 'Lolita' has the dubious honor of being the oldest orca kept in captivity, and she still performs at two shows per day, every day of the year, in Miami's Seaquarium, something she's done for the past 25 years. This documentary offers an in-depth look at the entire question of capturing orcas for marine parks, and at the experiences of Lolita, in particular. There are firm opinions on both sides of the issue; those in favor of releasing orcas say that man has no right to capture wild creatures merely for the purpose of providing a source of entertainment, while those who work with the killer whales say that only a confined environment will enable humans to study these remarkable animals and learn more about how we interact with them. Lolita is certainly well taken care of and loved by her trainers, but critics of the Seaquarium point to the decaying condition of her enclosure and the lack of space for her to truly swim with a sense of freedom. It's to the credit of this production that both sides of the issue are fairly presented by literate spokes­persons and the viewer is given a great deal of information in order to arrive at his or her own decision. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (J. Carlson)