The film took place in Taiji, Japan, where dolphin-shaped buses, signs, toys, and infrastructure filled the entire place, creating the illusion that the people here loved the dolphins. When the cast tried to stop the fisherman and asked why they killed dolphins, they say that it was a tradition for the people that lived there. However, when the casts went to the streets to interview people and asked about their traditions, the only reactions that were received and shown on their faces were only of shock and disbelief. This closeup interview scene represents the first audience that this issue has been introduced even without the films release which helps promote the cause and proves that it doesnt have only the casts support, but also the people of Japan, to reveal this atrocity to the world.
The cruel methods used during dolphin hunting is considered mentally torturous, due to the high sensitivity sonars that dolphins have. In or
der to capture and lure them to a certain area, which is a cove in Taiji, that is covered by high cliffs on three sides, makes it the best place to kill these creatures without the view of the public, the fishermen use poles and hammers. By beating them together, the vibrations from the pole vibrate in the water, distressing the dolphins and causing them to frightening swim away from it. This tactic is highly useful but extremely harmful to the mental health of the dolphins, as they then spend the entire night in the cove with little space to swim around in. These actions were caught on footage by using drones that flew over the waters during the day, however, once night hits, drones are no longer an option. The majority of the film is focused on how to catch these slaughterings to use as proof for the public and scenes of camera making and camouflaging technology was displayed to show the work the cast did to promote this cause.