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      Tarka the Otter

      G 1979 1h 31m Adventure List
      Reviews 74% Audience Score 250+ Ratings The life of a mischievous otter is traced from his birth to his epic battle with the leader of a hound pack. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Emma S Tarka the Otter (based on the book by Henry Williamson) Released in 1979 the film is set in 1929, a period when otter hunting was still legal in the U.K. and otters were generally seen as vermin, their numbers still plentiful. In real life, by the 70's the story was very different and otters were on the brink of extinction. They had been virtually wiped out by a combination of factors including; hunting ( otter hunting was only banned the year before in 1978) loss of habitat , increased road traffic accidents and the horrendous poisoning of U.K. rivers and waterways with the build up of organochlorine pesticides DDT. I really believe this film was in a small way responsible for keeping the otter in the public eye and changing public perception. This would unlock more support for the conservation efforts of a very small band of dedicated specialists that actually managed to turn the tide of their decline. The music score used in the film was composed by David Fanshawe and it is a joyful masterpiece of mouth harps, harmonicas and percussion. There is nothing quite like it. It's a strange score and well worth listening to the musical depictions of wildlife as it tells the story in between words. The badger mouth harp combo is particularly effective! It is narrated by the one and only Peter Ustinov and the story is as compelling as it is enchanting. The cinematography and animals are beautiful and intimately captured with fantastic use of natural light . Their behaviour is interpreted without being anthropomorphic.... and without becoming a documentary. Tarka is just an amazing personality and then there's the fearsome Deadlock, the lead hunt hound..... What is most interesting is there are no people, well a few as a background part of the story. You realise at the end, that a whole movie has unfolded without any real need for actors or dialogue. This Film is truly unique, before CGI could manipulate reality, it's inceredbly important not only for the development of techniques required to capture the underwater footage but as a historic record. A snapshot in time of glorious British countryside in Devon. What is most sad is that a lot of the habitats and species seen in this movie are significantly less rich and diverse today. Though otters are now pretty much present throughout the U.K.filling all previous strongholds, we have not been so good to our other wildlife since 1979. Many once common species ( such as the cuckoo for example) have declined drastically and too many are facing extinction. It is worth watching this movie to remind ourselves of the beauty of our wonderful wildlife as we rally to protect it. I will add this film shaped my life, I saw it as a child and it would inspire me so much that I would later qualify as an ecologist, live on a narrowboat for many years and specialise in otter survey and river habitats. If you love nature, you will this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/07/22 Full Review Audience Member Beautiful cinematography highlights this good live-action animal adventure based on the children's book. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member The film that excelled me into animal welfare Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent family film Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member That movie is awesome! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Intended to be a nature film to educate the common man on the plight of the endangered otter, Tarka comes across as a fiasco of blood and bad narration. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Tarka the Otter

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis The life of a mischievous otter is traced from his birth to his epic battle with the leader of a hound pack.
      Director
      David Cobham
      Rating
      G
      Genre
      Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      1h 31m