The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52
A quest to find an elusive and isolated creature
A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary
Showing at Billings Farm & Museum
January 15 at 3PM & 5:30PM
WOODSTOCK, VT … “The Loneliest Whale” is a cinematic quest to find the elusive creature known as the “52 Hertz Whale,” which scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude calling out at a frequency that is different from any other whale.
Identified as a whale by the marine scientist Dr. William A. Watkins, who tracked the solitary signal for a dozen years until his death in 2004, 52 had not been followed since. No one knew whether the whale was even still alive. Equipped with sophisticated sonar equipment and accompanied by a cohort of scientists, director Joshua Zeman led the expedition to find Whale 52.
“The Loneliest Whale” is a nature mystery, an unanswered question that needs to be solved and a chronicle of Zeman’s seemingly impossible journey to find his white whale. With a little data and a whole lot of hope, Zeman sets sail for the Channel Islands off California with a team of oceanographers and biologists in tow, using Navy sonar equipment, drone cameras and tracking tags to try and find Whale 52.
Over two showings on Saturday, January 15, at 3:00PM and 5:30PM in the Billings Farm & Museum Theater, The Loneliest Whale will take viewers on an engrossing journey, audiences will explore what this whale’s lonely plight can teach us — not just about our changing relationship to the oceans, but to each other.
This season the 12th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present a selection of 10 diverse films reflecting Billings Farm & Museum’s vision to share place-based stories of people near and far, to engage our audiences, and to inspire conversations that increase connections with each other and our world. The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is curated and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jay Craven, and produced by the Billings Farm & Museum, with generous support from local sponsors. We gratefully acknowledge our lead sponsors: D. R. Horne & Company and the Woodstock Inn & Resort, as well as Ellaway Property Services, Inc.
In re-opening the Billings Farm & Museum Theater to the Film Series, the health and safety of guests is a top priority. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system, a hospital level standard for air filtration that is more effective in capturing small airborne particles. Film attendees are required to wear masks in the theater at all times and to show proof of vaccination to enter.
Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Purchase advance tickets online at billingsfarm.org/filmseries or reserve by phone at 802-457-5303 by noon on January 14. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend. We recommend providing proof of vaccination online in advance to avoid lines. Find the form at billingsfarm.org/proof-of-vaccination-form/.
For a complete list of screenings and to purchase tickets visit: www.billingsfarm.org/filmseries.
Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.
Photo courtesy of Swank Motion Pictures
