A documentary film exploring the rise and fall of José Luis Barbero, the last dolphin king.
A world-famous dolphin trainer is accused of abusing animals and his prestigious reputation implodes; consequently, the dolphin show industry is called into question. The Last Dolphin King delves into the dangerous mix between ambition, power and money and questions whether animals should ever be used for human entertainment.
In 2015, animal rights activists posted a video showing a world-renown trainer allegedly mistreating dolphins at a popular dolphinarium in Mallorca, Spain. The video prompted an international scandal: the dolphin trainer was José Luis Barbero, who had just been hired by the prestigious Georgia Aquarium, in Atlanta (USA).
Was the video of Barbero an attempt to bring down an outdated and cruel industry or was its real intention to destroy one man´s questionable reputation? Relatives and colleagues of José Luis Barbero, animal activists, marine park entrepreneurs and journalists share their version of the events for the first time.
Directed by Luis Ansorena Hervés and Ernest Riera and produced by Polar Star Films, The Last Dolphin King premieres on Netflix on November 25th, after recently having screened at Amsterdam’s International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA).
A final thought frolm directors Luis Ansorena and Ernest Riera; “Many people have tried, by different means, to stop us from telling this story. If we have persevered over the last seven years, it is because we consider the public interest to be self-evident. We are convinced that whoever sees this documentary will have enough elements to form their own opinion about dolphinariums and about the price of captivity on both animals and people”