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The Oil Spill Disaster and Otters

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Gr 5 Up—Fast-paced editing and the enthusiastic voice and presence of narrator Mark Miller combine to offer a lively program about sea otters in Alaska's Prince William Sound and a 37-year old female gorilla at a Seattle zoo. On location in Alaska, scientists seek to capture sea otters in order to take liver biopsies to study the lasting impact of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Although the spill happened more than 20 years ago, it modified the entire ecosystem. These longitudinal studies of otters help track the ongoing results and the damage caused by the oil. Included are scenes of the capture, surgery, and release of the otters. The other segment of this program involves Nina, a gorilla, who needs a complete physical exam. Medical personnel, both male and female, are involved in the procedures that indicate that the gorilla is healthy. The program is divided into segments that allow time for explanation or discussion. This film is a fine lead-in to a class lecture, or it can be used to encourage further research.—Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel, IL
In this beautiful, heartrending, yet horrifying film, North Koreans tell their stories of imprisonment, sexual slavery, torture, murder, and escape to China or South Korea during the nearly 50-year regime of Kim Il Sung (1912—94). The interviews are illustrated through the interspersion of dance sequences, archival news footage, and drawings. Particularly interesting are the North Korean propaganda films celebrating Kim Il Sung as God and showing in the face of mass starvation happy workers, elaborate military displays, and the creation of a new flower in 1988 in honor of the 46th birthday of Kim's son and successor, Kim Jong Il. A valuable time line traces 20th-century events in Korea. Bonus features include previously unreleased footage of camp refugees. This mesmerizing film displays excellent production values and is highly recommended for Asia collections.—Kitty Chen Dean, formerly with Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY
Reviewed by Kitty Chen Dean , Jun 01, 2011

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