but I disagree that the trainers and director remain ignorant to the flawed nature of captivity itself. the trainers knew the whales would get defiant when their buckets of treats was emptying (they could hear the increased clatter of ice) -- they were performing for food, not for any "relationships". one of two trainers state that out loud, even.

the intelligence of whales is also repeatedly stressed, by the trainers and other talking heads, showing that the little jumps and tricks were nothing to them. one of the most harrowing scenes -- the experienced trainer being taken underwater deliberately -- reinforces that. the whales do what they want, whenever they want, human petting be damned.

some of the trainers do seem reluctant to accept those truths, but the ending shot seems to reinforce the idea of anti-capitvity to the fullest: formers trainers seeing whales for the first time in the wild, and how much more beautiful they looked than at any time in an exhibition pool.