Director MARK FLETCHER (Austria 2022) 72 min
Veteran director of wildlife films Mark Fletcher brings his experience to an undersea adventure with marine videographer, whale enthusiast, and Discovery series host Patrick Dykstra as he attempts to reconnect with a female sperm whale he calls “Dolores.” Dykstra is convinced the sperm whales are eager to communicate with humans; his quest yields a ravishing visual experience that pairs outstanding underwater footage with a throbbing curiosity to better understand between-species relationships. But while attempting to capture exclusive footage of whale behavior, Dykstra undergoes something of a change of heart: His emotional attachment to the whale leads to a renewed reckoning within himself about the ethical implications of conducting research on unsuspecting animals. Thus Patrick and the Whale becomes more complex and challenging than a mere wildlife-science profile, posing interesting questions about exploration, ethics, and emotional connections.