You may have heard about a man named Malcom Brenner – a man who claims to have had a love affair with a dolphin in 1970. Brenner met the dolphin at a Florida Amusement park while he was taking photos for a job. This story came to light thanks to a short film called Dolphin Lover, in which Malcom (now 63) tells his account of the relationship that began at Floridaland decades ago. Word spread about the film after its much talked about premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival, and shortly thereafter going viral thanks to press received at the festival. The film has been featured on everything from the New York Daily News to Vice to Bravo’s Watch what Happens Live.
I saw the film by accident at Slamdance Film festival (shorts play before the features) and still can’t get it out of my mind- so I thought it was only fair for you all to watch yourselves. In several interviews Brenner has explained in detail his relationship with the Dolphin, Dolly. “At first I discouraged her, I wasn’t interested. After some time I thought, ‘If this was a woman, would I come up with these rationalizations and excuses?’” Brenner told the New York Daily News. And the film itself uses illustrations to detail just how Brenner and Dolly had sex, according to Brenner’s accounts. Can a human really fall in love with a dolphin? Does love have its own language (even if squeaked through a blowhole)?
