“Humankind Must Learn Humility”: New Documentary Explores How Community Reeling From Fatal Shark Bite Is Dealing With the Loss

Shark movies have always captured the imagination of audiences. HBO wants to remove fantasy from the equation with their new documentary series, ‘After The Bite’. Ahead of its worldwide release on July 26, the network has released a gripping trailer. The documentary showcases the devastating aftermath of a fatal shark attack on a small coastal community in Massachusetts.

Director and producer Ivy Metropol wishes to tell the real story of shark attacks and their impact on a community beyond the Hollywood portrayal. He desires to educate thousands of vacationers that crowd the beaches in Cape Cod about sharks and their dangers. He wishes to shed light on the dangers and consequences of these increasing attacks.

Unmasking the Real Dangers of Shark Attacks

The documentary is a deep dive into the impact of shark attacks on the lives of the locals, both physically and emotionally. In 2018, a young man named Aurthur Medici was attacked by a shark while he was boogie boarding. This attack was a wake call for the community as the victim was only thirty yards from the shore. The community felt like they had to respond to the invasion of these predators in their once peaceful waters. The film highlights the fear and trauma experienced by the locals, as well as the economic impact on tourism and local businesses.

According to the documentary film’s synopsis, “Great white sharks…deadly interactions with people have increased in the waters stretching from Maine to the Cape and Islands”. The local authorities and also volunteer groups have remained alert to ensure the safety of visitors. They carry stop-the-bleed first aid kits, shark-tracking equipment, and brochures on shark safety tips.

Furthermore, spotter planes are always on the lookout for any signs of shark activity. The film also covers the points of view of prominent marine biologists and conservationists who believe “Humankind must learn humility in the face of nature”. They are pleading with the community to look at “the bigger picture,” which would prevent a bad interaction.

Insights from Marine Biologists and Conservationists on Shark Attack

‘After the Bite’ also interviewed Dr. Greg Skomal and Meg Winton, employed at the Atlantic White Shark Conservatory, who has been tracking the migration of Great Whites to Cape Cod. According to their estimate, more than 800 sharks relocated to the area between 2015 to 2018. Expert scientist Lisa Sette of the Center of Coastal Studies explained the reason for this migration as the predators following their prey to warmer waters.

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Seals are the primary prey of Great White sharks, and Cape Cod provides an abundant seal population. The documentary film also sought the opinion of Crocker Snow on the matter, who owns an uninhabited island off of Nantucket Sound that has become the largest seal breeding ground in the Northeast. The local community blames the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 for not being able to curtail the growing seal population. The film is described as “a portrait of an interconnected community of people and wildlife” and will explore the way by which a balance can be achieved in nature.

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