Ron Taylor – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MOVIE OF THE WEEK July 23, 2021: PLAYING WITH SHARKS: THE VALERIE TAYLOR STORY

July 17, 2021July 27, 2021 Jennifer Merin australian films, betdy bozdech, Cate Marquis, documentaries, jennifer merin, leslie combemale, loren king, motw, Movie of the Week, nell minow, Pam Grady, Playing With Sharks, Ron Taylor, sally aitken, susan wloszczyna, Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor started diving with sharks back when, as archival footage reveals, it was considered droll to refer to her as a “mermaid” who was there to support and presumably fawn over the male divers. But based on what we learn of her in Sally Aitken’s entertaining documentary Playing with Sharks, it seems likely that if Taylor ever heard that description, she probably rolled her eyes and left the guys eating her bubbles.

Reviews

PLAYING WITH SHARKS: THE VALERIE TAYLOR STORY – Review by Loren King

July 12, 2021July 17, 2021 Loren King australian films, documentaries, motw, Movie of the Week, Playing With Sharks, Ron Taylor, sally aitken, Valerie Taylor

If underwater photographer, filmmaker and conservationist Valerie May Taylor didn’t exist, the movies would have to invent her. Lucky for us she does, and Sally Aitken’s revelatory and fascinating documentary Playing With Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story gives Taylor, now a spry 85, her well-deserved due.

Reviews

PLAYING WITH SHARKS: THE VALERIE TAYLOR STORY – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

July 12, 2021July 17, 2021 Susan Wloszczyna australian films, documentaries, motw, Movie of the Week, Playing With Sharks, Ron Taylor, sally aitken, Valerie Taylor

If you are in need of inspiration of the fierce, feisty and fearless female kind, you can’t do better than this semi-deep dive into the life of Valerie May Taylor as revealed in the documentary Playing With Sharks. This world-renowned marine conservationist and deep-sea diver is basically in the same league as gorilla protector Dian Fossey and chimp savior Jane Goodall. Only her realm is truly many leagues below the Earth’s surface where her fishy playmates lurk in the form of sharks.