Chicago, 2012. A man drowns in an artificial lake after being attacked by a swan, making it the only known case of a human death by swan-related causes. The man’s family sues the local authorities, asking the rea-son why “dangerous swans” are being put into lakes. Our relationship with animals is distorted: after having explored every corner of the globe, and reshaped the environment to our whims, we consider ourselves the dominant species on the planet. We apply this frame to animals too, and we want to control them in every possible way, caging and exploiting them. Sometimes, they do not comply.

Killer whale strikes back analyzes the human relationship with animals, showcasing their resilience and the unexpected ways they are able to survive exploitation, control, and even thrive in some cases.