Reviews & Quotes | Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief

Dr. Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE
"How beautiful, how sad, and what a powerful message."

Animayo International Film Festival
“This deeply moving short film has managed to captivate us with its powerful and emotional narrative [and] stunning visual beauty. This masterpiece […] includes narration by Daniel Kreizberg himself, who not only directs but also lends his voice to guide the audience through this emotional journey.”

Lynda Mapes, Environmental Reporter for The Seattle Times & Author of Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home
“What a beautiful tribute you and your team have created, thank you for this act of beauty and kindness. Entirely accurate, deeply moving, you have made an important and lasting contribution.”

Lori Marino, Founder & President of the Whale Sanctuary Project
“I cannot express how moving this film is. We at the Whale Sanctuary Project joined the world, and you, in watching the ‘tour of grief’ that Tahlequah displayed. We’ll never know why her daughter died, but it is clear that our species is harming that community of beings. You and your team have captured the poignancy of the southern residents and Tahlequah and I can’t thank you enough for placing all of this within human responsibility.”

Jeanne Hyde, Orca Documentarian at The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor, WA
“Thank you, Daniel, and everyone who participated in the creation of this film. Every bit of it is stunning and powerful. You created something beautiful out of such sadness and grief. And how you brought it into the struggles of present times. Heartfelt to the core. WOW!”

Mary Jo Farrer, Orca Adoption Program Manager at The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor, WA
“Thank you for bringing Tahlequah’s story forward in this authentic portrayal. It is an emotional tribute to the culture and beauty of the Southern Residents.”

Berit N. Legrand, Founder of The Animal Fund
"Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief beautifully captures the story of Tahlequah, showcasing the emotional depth, motherhood, compassion, and intelligence of orcas. It seamlessly weaves in an educational narrative about the unprotected ocean and its impact on wildlife. This powerful message inspires action and reflection. The film is exceptionally well-made, with exquisite illustrations and accompanied by a magnificent orchestral score that enhances every moment. Every detail is meticulously thought out, making it a truly impressive experience. Thank you for creating such an impactful film. I hope it reaches audiences far and wide."

Damián Perea, Founder of the Animayo International Film Festival
"This film is very emotional. It touched my heart and moved me.”

Dr. Gretchen Coffman, Ph.D., International Ocean Film Festival
"This film intertwines the heart-wrenching journey of orca mother Tahlequah [...] with broader human tales of loss. [...] With stunning frame-by-frame animation, this poignant story explores grief, resilience, and our collective responsibility towards the planet's future."

Caroline Audibert, Journalist for Monaco Ocean Week
"An animated short film that depicts the tragic fate of a mother orca and her calf, an ecological fable illustrating the vulnerability of a species increasingly exposed to the industrial ills of the ocean. The maternal instinct of the large marine mammal is equally honored in this short masterpiece [...] of high emotional intensity."

Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival
"A breathtaking film enriched with stunning animation and evocative music, vividly bringing Tahlequah's story to life. The film masterfully conveys deep emotions, bringing tears to the audience's eyes and inspiring them to take action for these magnificent creatures and their habitat. Kudos to the entire team for creating such a remarkable film!"

Greg Reitman, Founder of the Blue Water Film Festival
"Daniel Kreizberg's Tahlequah is emotional, insightful and impactful."

Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival
"A visceral story about loss and love."

Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival
"Through this artistic tribute, Tahlequah's legacy lives on, touching hearts and reminding us of the interconnectedness of all life."

Noelle Melody, Animation Programmer at Woodstock Film Festival
"We just want to say how much we loved this film, truly one of our top choices in this year’s Woodstock Film Festival Animation program. It was an honor to share Tahlequah’s story and have you there to speak with the audience.”

Joy Buran, Animation Programmer at Woodstock Film Festival
"Thank you, Daniel, for making this. Whenever we speak of your film to others, it is always through tears. A stunning work of both overcoming loss and hope for the future.”

Taxidrivers Magazine, reporting from the Lucca Film Festival
"A fabulous and moving story of pain and hope” that “imaginatively fictionalizes a tragic true story.”

Conrado Xalabarder, Mundo BSO
“A beautiful symphonic creation that […] achieves great emotional expressiveness.”

Anton Smit, Soundtrack World
“[A] stunning score. The story is sad and beautiful at the same time, and the gorgeous and emotional lines Ritmanis wrote are a perfect fit, in which you can hear the grief and love from a mother to her lost child.”

Jonathan Broxton, Movie Music UK
“[An] astonishingly beautiful score […] lush, lyrical, emotional, passionate […] painting a lovely portrait of love and loss in the animal kingdom. The cello writing in “A Mother Mourns” is especially striking for its emotional resonance. The violin performance of the main theme in “A Phoenix Rises” is staggeringly beautiful, a hauntingly appropriate tribute to the depth of feeling between a mother and her child.”

Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of "The Emotional Lives of Animals"
“Daniel Kreizberg's award-winning film Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief clearly shows that orcas and other animals have rich and deep emotional lives, and that we therefore must treat them with compassion and kindness. Kreizberg's work is a game-changer that will significantly help people see orcas not as unfeeling objects or property, but as unquestionably deeply sentient individuals who care about what happens to themselves, their family, and others."