Films / Movies / WILDLIFE

The Whale, The True Story of Luna

by Jennie Richards · Published March 28, 2017 · Updated July 26, 2021

https://pbsinternational.org/programs/saving-luna-a-whale-story/The documentary film The Whale tells the heart-warming true story of Luna, a young two-year old orca who became separated from his family and adopted a community of residents living in a remote fjord on the coast of British Columbia. The story of Luna is about friendship and respect between people and a very special orca, and in Luna’s case, respect and friendship meant listening and trying to understand what Luna seemed to be saying about his needing contact with a special caring human community.

The film has been described as “a complete emotional experience,” because the human-animal bond is undeniable and deeply rooted in our humanity. The story helps us to appreciate our own complex emotions, our deep connection with all living beings, and our own need for community. One thing for sure, it’s hard not to get emotional seeing this beautiful, poignant story about how a lost whale touches a village community in Nootka Sound.

The Whale was created based on the worldwide popularity of the film documentary Saving Luna. Producers have added new film footage, a new narrative and voice, and a story that is more appropriate for all ages to watch. The Whale is a must-see for the entire family and watching it with children, will inspire family conversations and arouse teachable moments for children about right and wrong behavior around wildlife and animals.

Film Length: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes

Film Launched: September 2011

Ways To Watch & Learn About The Whale

Rent, Stream or Buy on Amazon
Learn More About Luna The Whale, visit The Whale Movie website
Watch and visit more about the documentary Saving Luna
Watch the Producers Latest Film: Call of the Baby Beluga on National Geographic WILD, see the Trailer
Like The Whale Movie on Facebook

What You Can Do to Help Whales

Share the Film – Share this special true story with friends and family
Educate Yourself – Watch other documentaries about orcas including Blackfish, Saving Luna, A Fall From Freedom, and BreachTheFilm and visit Center for Whale Research and The Orca Project, and read Death At SeaWorld.
Learn More About Orcas – Watch the BlueVoice videos at http://bluevoice.org/webfilms.php.
Don’t Attend or Visit Marine Mammal Parks or Aquarium Shows – Don’t support businesses that capture, breed and force orcas into captivity. Don’t support these businesses that hunt down wild baby orcas and dolphins, tear them from their families, and imprison them to perform for human audiences 24/7, never to swim in the sea again—all for business greed and profit.
Tell Friends and Family Not to Visit or Support Marine Mammal Parks – Like Miami Seaquarium, Six Flags in Vallejo, CA, SeaWorld in San Diego and Orlando, and Marineland in Canada – and many more around the world, they are all bad.
Sign Petitions! – Ask businesses and industries to stop supporting SeaWorld and other theme parks and aquariums that force orcas into imprisonment and cruelly perform – all against their will.
Ask For Bans – Support efforts to BAN the cruel hunts in the ocean and BAN the establishment of captive facilities around the world forcibly holding dolphins and whales, all for business profit and greed.
Speak Out – Encourage marine parks to become spaces for rehabilitating injured mammals and releasing them, and not breeding or hunting them. You can leaflet at local marine parks and aquariums, here’s how.
Call and Write Your Congressman and Elected Officials – Tell them not to support marine mammal captivity. Find your Senators, find your House Representatives. Here are steps to help legislate change for animals. Read Passing Animal-Friendly Legislation.
Keep Your Community Free of Captive Facilities – Learn how here.
Animal Alert! – When you see a captive animal suffering in a theme or marine park, or dolphinarium, take positive action and File A Report. REPORT IT HERE.