Editor,

I still am high from a great Saturday course of in-my-face orca life on the Clyde Theater big screen. The excellent color-drenched film entitled “Orcas — Life in Black and White” had a thoughtful Q&A afterwards with its maker, veteran wildlife documentarian Florian Graner. The house was so full that an extra showing is now offered at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 25 (see theclyde.net for a writeup).

My short review: This labor of love merges a decade of older best shots with newer skilled drone and underwater footage that’s “in your face” with its size and intensity. Throughout is a highly intelligent narration interpreting surprising, multi-view sequences of intense orca actions and events. They occur not only in our familiar Northwest environs but in surprising locations around the world. Elsewhere the “cousins” of “our orcas” tap their own unique prey for food with chess-like adapted skills. Much more detail and insight came for me while seeing their extensive youth-training rounds for hunting, their group celebrations, the varying brilliant hunting strategies, youthful courtship, and the resemblance at times with wolf packs. Go if you can and be a bit early for seating!

Mark Wahl

Langley