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Patrick and the Whale
Closed Captions English
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For twenty years, Patrick Dykstra has dedicated his life to travelling the globe, following and diving with whales. Over the years, Pat has learned how whales see and hear, how they perceive other creatures in the water and how they behave at close quarters. He has a finely tuned sense and knows how to act when within touching distance of a whale – what to do, what not to do, and when. This allows him to consistently get closer than anyone else alive – a truly unique skill.

Patrick recently experienced a life-changing event. In Dominica in 2019, he had a close encounter with a female sperm whale. She seemed to be curious about him, coming within touching distance, pulsing him with her sonar. She studied him as he studied her. Patrick felt an overwhelming sense that she was genuinely trying to communicate.

In PATRICK AND THE WHALE, we follow Patrick as he travels to Dominica once again to find this special whale he has named "Dolores", so she can help him show us the hidden world of her species. Using stunning underwater footage, Patrick will explore the fascinating nature of the sperm whale, attempting to shine a light on its intelligence and complexity, as well as highlighting its current and past relationships with humankind.

The film also follows his personal journey and explores the psychology of a man who has sacrificed everything in his single-minded quest to connect with, and understand, the biggest creatures in the ocean.
Studio: Terra Mater Studios
Producers: Walter KöhlerWolfgang Knöpfler
From: Austria
Produced In: Dominica, United Kingdom
Directors: Mark Fletcher
Lead Actors: Patrick Dykstra
Key Crew: Mark Fletcher - EditorRupert Murray - DOPJustin Knöpfler - Drone Operator & Camera AssistantRichard Eastick - Sound Recordist
73 minutes
An inspiring and engaging tale of Patrick Dykstra and a sperm whale “Dolores.”
Due to geographic restrictions, this content is available only in Canada.
Genres: Documentary and Reality, Biopic
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