The End of the Line Review

Dir: Rupert Murray
Rating: 4/5

How much thought to give to where your seafood comes from? Are you eating from sustainable fish stocks or are you mainly adding to the problem? But did you even know that fish are endangered animals too?

And that is exactly the point that filmmaker Rupert Murray and environmental journalist Charles Clover try to bring home in their new documentary The End of the Line. And while you may all think that it's just another documentary that harps on about the doom and the gloom of our planet perhaps you should take a moment to see why their message is so important.

The movie looks at the desperate state of overfishing which, if not drastically reduced, will mean the end of most seafood as an eating consideration within forty years.

Director Rupert Murray combines mesmerizing photography above and below water with the story of the indefatigable investigative reporter Charles Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs.

The near extinction of cod is examined and the now imminent extinction of bluefin tuna brought on by the increasing western demand for sushi, governments unwilling to follow the scientists suggestions of catch limits and a flourishing illegal trade.

The impact on marine life from the overfishing of large fish species results in a huge overpopulation of algae and jellyfish as well as mass poverty in rural areas where fish is running out yet large commercial boats equipped with radar still impinge on local fishermen’s livelihoods.

Despite it's rather grim topic The End of the Line is one of those movies that everyone should watch as filmmaker Murray isn't afraid to bring home his point in rather gruesome fashion as he highlight the real damage that we are doing to our oceans.

And yes at times the movie can be difficult to watch but we really are starring catastrophe in the face, this is not over the top or exaggeration Murray presents the hard, and rather chilling, black and white.

The film is based on the book written by environmental journalist Charles Clover back in 2005, a journalist who has long researched the subject and campaigned for change.

Shot over two years it's obvious that this is a subject that the people behind this movie care very much about they are not merely jumping on the documentary bandwagon but deliver a message that we should all listen to.

As well as bringing home the not so cheery message that we have almost fished a handful of species to death Murray contrasts that with images of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitats, can you imagine a world without these?

Murray balances well the information from the experts with harrowing images that really bring the message home. Ok so this is not a movie that you are going to watch on a regular basis but The End of the Line dose make you consider where the seafood that we eat is coming from.

The End of the Line is out now

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw