THE GRAND NABS A U.S. PREMIERE >>>

As fall approaches, our thoughts turn to whale watching. And puking. This is the time of year the northern resident orcas feed in Johnson Strait off Vancouver Island.

And we puke every time we cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca by boat. Every. Time.

Therefore, we're going to grab our orca face time inside an air-conditioned Grand Cinema to watch a film about a baby orca, Luna, that becomes separated from his family and befriends the humans of Nootka Sound along the rugged Vancouver Island coast.

Ah, sweet.

Of course, everyone falls in love with Luna, but the film asks the tough question: Does human contact harm the whale?

Hmmm.

The Whale opens Friday, Sept. 9 at The Grand Cinema, which happens to be the film's U.S. premiere.

"I have seen it and it is well done," says Philip Cowan, executive director at The Grand. "It fits pretty much any age."

You may read up on the film here.

As an extra bonus, the film's co-director Suzanna Chisholm will attend the 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. screenings Saturday, Sept. 10 then stick around for questions.

Cowan guesses the film will run two weeks at The Grand.