CLEARLAKE – Anyone who loves animals will want to see “The Cove,” the extraordinary, newly-released documentary which is already on the short list for an Oscar for 2009 and will be Second Sunday Cinema's featured film on Sunday, Jan. 10.

The showing will take at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave. near Mullen in Clearlake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the showing at 6 p.m. A discussion will follow.

Every year, despite the increasing global outcry, "fishermen" in Taiji, Japan slaughter 23,000 wild dolphins from September through March.

The dolphins are eaten, despite their high levels of mercury. Many dolphins are also captured to fill orders from various seaquariums around the world, including those in the US.

Decades ago a very young Ric O'Barry captured and trained the five dolphins which became, jointly, "Flipper" of TV fame.

After one of his favorite dolphins committed suicide in his arms, he realized the incredible cruelty of imprisoning these freedom-loving, intelligent, even compassionate creatures from the open seas in a tiny, watery prison. Since then, he has worked to stop the harvest and the slaughter.

In this dramatic, suspenseful and well-made film, intrepid dolphin-lovers and filmmakers brave very real danger to film the truth about the cruel slaughters in the cove, and the harvesting of dolphins bound for the entertainment world.

The astounding and humbling act by O'Barry at the end of the film to inform people must be seen to be believed.

With this fine film, Second Sunday Cinema completes its third year of providing important, interesting and well-made documentaries to the people of Lake County.

For more information call 707-279-2957.