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Deep Dive: Watson (2019)

Film Lens

Watson
Watson is a documentary directed by Lesley Chilcott that chronicles the life and activism of Paul Watson, a Canadian-American environmentalist and co-founder of Greenpeace. The film covers Watson's founding of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 and his ongoing efforts to protect ocean and marine wildlife. Filmed over two years in locations such as Costa Rica, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the United States, it includes action sequences, interviews, and archival footage of Sea Shepherd's confrontations with whalers and seal hunters. The documentary presents Watson as a polarizing figure in environmental activism, illustrating the personal costs of his dedication to marine conservation. It features underwater nature footage and captures the stark contrast between beautiful marine life and the destruction caused by human activities. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2019 and was later released theatrically and aired on Animal Planet in December 2019.

Why Watch

  • See Paul Watson confront whalers and seal hunters.
  • Find out about Sea Shepherd's marine conservation efforts.
  • Meet a polarizing figure in environmental activism.

Did You Know

Watson premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2019.
The film has a 100% positive rating from 10 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watson was the youngest founding member of Greenpeace.
The documentary was filmed over two years across three countries.

Perfect For

Marine conservationEnvironmental activismDocumentary enthusiasts