The film tells the story of Hvaldimir, a whale believed to have been used for various Russian military purposes. It explores the whale’s origin, character, and characteristics thereof and of other whales exploited in military operations.
“Hvaldimir has become a symbol of the global dilemmas, where science, politics, and ethics collide. It is a story that speaks to the whole world. The film explores the theme of animal consciousness and free will. It also raises the question: Should humans make decisions for animals? How do we treat nature? It highlights the exploitation of animals for various purposes”, says director and actor F. Schnoller.
The film and the discussion invite you to rethink about the relationship between people and nature and to find solutions to reduce the negative environmental impact of human activities. The story of Hvaldimir is a perfect example of how human curiosity, scientific achievements, and ethical issues can collide in the same context.
| “For a long time, the ocean resources were thought to be inexhaustible, but we are seeing ecosystems disappearing due to intensive fishing and pollution. The Baltic Sea has reached the point, where we are competing with natural predators for food resources. This is a signal that we need to change our consumption habits and behave more responsibly,” KU researcher Dr. Robertas Staponkus shares his knowledge. | .jpg) |
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According to KU scientist Dr. Julius Morkūnas, increasing human activities, pollution, and overexploitation of marine resources threaten not only aquatic animals, but also the planet’s entire system of life. He also gives some sad facts about the state of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and the falling population of birds: “The main causes of falling population of the Baltic Sea birds are intensive fishing, oil spills, climate change, and plastic ingestion. In Lithuania, up to 3,000 birds are killed by fishing gear in the Baltic Sea every year. Some seabird species in the Baltic Sea have declined by as much as 60-80% over the last 25 years.” |
F. Schnoller, co-author of the film, reveals that the aim of the documentary is not just to present dry facts and assumptions, but to raise awareness.
“It was not easy to collect and organize all the available information about Hvaldimir’s story, the exploitation of other animals, and the impact of humans on ocean ecosystems, but the biggest challenge was to link all the knowledge to an emotional story that could touch and move the audience. My and Jerome’s goal was to encourage people to ask themselves questions and to think even about the everyday habits that are destroying the ocean ecosystem,” says the director.
A screening and discussion of #Hvaldimir: The True Story of the Spy Beluga will take place on December 16, 3 pm, at EU-CONEXUS co-working space, Klaipėda University (Senate Building, H. Manto 84, Klaipėda). The event will be held in English, is free and open to all. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to dive into the mysteries of the oceans!
