(Shark Girl)
Gisela Kaufmann
Australia | 2013 | 58’
Monday 25 August (2nd screening) in all venues
rerun Tuesday 26 August, 10 a.m., Maison de la Grivola, Cogne
What if the love of your life is universally feared? What if you have a passion for alleged man-eaters? And what if you want to save them, save sharks?
You change your life.
That’s precisely what Madison Stewart did. At just 14 years old, she opted for home schooling and independence, to save the sharks she loves. Growing up on a yacht criss-crossing the Great Barrier Reef, the ocean became Madison’s home, and sharks her companions and family. But the dream began to turn sour. In this UNESCO World Heritage site her sharks are not protected from commercial fishing. A staggering 600 tonnes or about 80,000 sharks can be hauled from its waters every year. Yet research indicates this cannot be sustained and the sharks are disappearing, killed for nothing more than cheap fish, pet food and a status symbol – shark fin soup. So armed with just a video camera, Madison set out to fight the ignorance that surrounds these spectacular and misunderstood creatures. 5 years later and her determination has only grown. Shark Girl follows her journey from Australia to Mexico, Palau and the Bahamas. Madison Stewart is one-of-a-kind. Free-spirited yet fully focussed, playful yet considerate, youthfully idealistic yet down to earth – and she’s deadly serious about her life’s mission.
The film contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing