The Martlet

“The story of life does not have to be human to be great,” said Suzanne Chisholm, co-director and producer of Saving Luna, who attended a showing of the film at UVic’s Cinecenta on Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 11 and 12.

Saving Luna is the story of a killer whale who was separated from his pod when he was just a baby. He found himself alone and wandered through Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island looking for contact — something that whales crave just as much as humans. 

The whale touched the hearts of many, including fishermen, forestry workers, First Nations people and producers, stirring up much controversy after he spent several years in the bay.

The story “stole our hearts,” said Chisholm. Along with her husband Michael Parfit, Chisholm came to Nootka Sound in 2004 to cover the story for a magazine.  The two planned to stay for three weeks but were soon sucked in by the fin, flippers and charm of the little whale. Parfit and Chisholm wrapped up their work at the magazine and started work on a book, following that up with this feature documentary, which contains exclusive videos of Luna himself.

Chisholm called the film project a “labour of love.”

“[That young whale] showed us humans more than we ever imagined about the nature of love and friendship,” Chisholm said.

The couple has been travelling all over the world with the film since its release, including visits to Greece and Japan. They have found the international response to be incredible. Chisholm said she was the most surprised by the response in Japan, a country with a long history of whaling. Following a screening there, a lady stood up and said she never knew whales were so intelligent.

“If Luna’s story can help people learn about the amazing creatures with whom we share this planet and perhaps inspirate people to love and respect them, then that’s very gratifying to me as a filmmaker,” Chisolm said.

Although she said that the goal of the documentary is not to teach or preach, Chisholm believes it is not a bad side effect.

During the screening at the Cinecenta, questions were asked about everything from the making of the film to the emotions of the producers while they were making it.

As Chisholm explained in her introduction, it is a thought-provoking story because of the wall that typically exists of respect and even fear between animals and humans. 

Luna broke that barrier down.

Chisholm said that in her years of journalism, she had never run into a story quite like this one. The goal for the film was to get the story out there — and the two definitely have succeeded. 

Worldwide, Saving Luna has been screened at dozens of festivals, winning over 20 international awards.

The hope is that the documentary will be theatrically released in the U.S. in early 2010 and then be released on DVD not long after. You’ll be very glad you got to know this extraordinary being.