You are here:

When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time

When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time

Representation Score

3.7/10

Limited

2019

Director

Chad Cohen

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

When Whales Walked is a traditional natural history documentary focused on the evolutionary secrets of iconic animals. Its primary purpose is scientific inquiry rather than the exploration of human social identities or cultural hierarchies. Since the subject matter is strictly biological, the film lacks the framework for intentional representation of LGBTQ+ identities, race, or disability. It operates within the standard parameters of the educational documentary genre. While the global scope suggests a diverse scientific community, the film does not provide specific details regarding the multi-layered identities of the experts featured.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses solely on evolutionary biology and the fossil record. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or storylines related to gender identity or non-straight relationships.

How does When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time portray gender?

Fair

The movie centers on animal behavior and scientific research. While top scientists drive the narrative, there is no specific information about the gender distribution of these experts.

How racially and ethnically diverse is When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time?

Fair

The documentary follows a global adventure involving scientific teams. However, the specific racial composition of these researchers is not detailed in the film's overview.

How does When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story is rooted in empirical science and evolutionary biology. It does not engage with human cultural institutions, religious frameworks, or political ideologies.

Does When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time include disability representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on biological history and animal evolution. There is no evidence regarding the representation of human neurodivergence or physical disabilities.

Present on Screen

  • The film offers a global perspective on evolutionary history through a scientific lens.
  • It provides a universal exploration of deep time and biological progress.

Limited or Absent

  • The documentary lacks intentionality regarding the representation of human social identities.
  • There is no visible focus on the diversity of the scientific experts involved.

Official Synopsis

Discover the evolutionary secrets of some of the world’s most majestic creatures. From voracious crocodiles and acrobatic birds to stupendous whales and majestic elephants, this documentary follows top scientists on a global adventure as they follow clues from the fossil record and change what we thought we knew about the evolution of iconic beasts.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.