Steven Spielberg He is one of the greatest living filmmakers. With two Best Director Oscars — first for Schindler’s List and second for Saving Private Ryan — and a long list of works that have carved a place in cinema history over the years, Spielberg’s is one of them today the most famous names in the world. And yet even the director seems to associate a small remorse with one of his most famous films.
As early as 1975, Spielberg gave many moviegoers sleepless nights The sharkthe film based on the novel of the same name Peter Bankley who redefined the term thriller and thus also the summer blockbuster. There are countless titles that have emerged in the years that have followed that have inherited their legacy by trying to bring that same excitement back to screens, as well as the films that have cited their most memorable sequences to pay homage to what is to date is considered one of the cornerstones of the genre. However, the film is also memorable the negative impact on the perception of sharks are perceived by the public to be far more dangerous than they really are because of the film. A perception that not only had unpleasant consequences for bathing tourism, with the beaches suffering a huge drop in visitors at the time of the exit, but also for the animals themselves, which They became the object of a truly indiscriminate hunt.
Speaking on the matter in a recent interview with the BBC, Spielberg admitted that he partly regrets the impact the film had on people: “Today I sincerely regret the depletion of the shark population that was indirectly caused by the book and film. I’m really sorry. […] One thing I’m still scared of is that the sharks are kind of mad at me for starting the post 1975 sport fisherman’s insane hunting craze».
As previously mentioned, Spielberg’s fears are unfounded. Indeed, a study of the shark population published in Nature last year confirmed that the number of specimens found worldwide has declined dramatically by up to 71% since the early 1970s. Precisely because of the indiscriminate fishing.
Of course, it’s not all Spielberg’s “fault.” According to Paul Cox, executive director of the Shark Trust in Plymouth, it is undeniable that the film helped spread a false image of sharks, but he explains: “Most people can distinguish between real life and cinema. The decline in the shark population is a clear result of overfishing.
The film is now water under the bridge. However, the problem of indiscriminate hunting is more than current and it is important, as Paul Cox adds, that Steven Spielberg today spoke out in favor of protecting sharks, creatures that are anything but voracious, as shown in the film: «The Der Film focuses on everything sharks aren’t instead of showing how awesome they are. But for a celebrity like him to take on the challenge of projecting a more positive image to viewers is greatly appreciated.».
Source: The Guardian
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images
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