Led by youth conservationist Spencer Hitchen and directed by Josh “Bones” Murphy, “Love Letter to the Unseen” is a moving and inspiring documentary that brings attention to the plight of Tasmania’s endangered Maugean skate.
What begins as one young advocate’s quest to understand a little-known species gradually unfolds into a powerful story about conservation, community, and the profound difference that can be made when people choose to care.
At the heart of the documentary is Spencer, a passionate and thoughtful young advocate whose sincerity immediately draws viewers in. Rather than positioning him as a polished activist with all the answers, the film allows us to accompany him as he learns, asks questions, and discovers the complex realities surrounding the skate’s survival. His curiosity becomes our curiosity. His concern becomes our concern. By the time the film reaches its final act, it is impossible not to feel invested in both Spencer’s journey and the fate of the species he has dedicated himself to protecting.
The film’s cinematography captures Tasmania’s landscapes with a sense of wonder that reflects the film’s central message that there is immense beauty in the natural world, even in places and creatures that many people may never encounter firsthand.
The stunning imagery invites audiences to slow down and look closer, encouraging us to appreciate life forms that exist beyond the spotlight of popular conservation campaigns. The Maugean skate may not possess the global recognition of a whale, dolphin, or polar bear, but the film makes a compelling case that its survival is no less important.
Among the documentary’s most memorable artistic choices is its use of animation. Watching the white outlines of the Maugean skate and other animals, like the extinct Tasmanian tiger, journey across Tasmania’s landscapes evokes a dreamlike sense of awe and connection, transforming the creatures from scientific subjects into poignant reminders of both the beauty and vulnerability of Tasmania’s unique wildlife.
While the threats facing the Maugean skate are real and urgent, the film is also invested in understanding why this remarkable species matters to so many people.
Spencer’s journey brings him into conversation with scientists, political leaders, artists, and cultural leaders such as Lyndon O’Neil, each offering valuable insight into the skate’s place within Tasmania’s environmental and cultural landscape. Particularly moving are the contributions from artist Wendy Edwards, whose work highlights the skate’s beauty while advocating for its protection, illustrating how storytelling and creativity can become powerful tools for conservation. Together, these conversations reveal that conservation is about far more than preventing extinction. It is about preserving our connections to place, culture, history, and the living world around us.
By the film’s end, the Maugean skate becomes a symbol of everything we stand to lose when we stop paying attention and everything we might still save if we choose to act.
“Love Letter to the Unseen” is a must-see film, not only because it is a beautifully crafted documentary, but because it empowers audiences to believe they can make a difference. What makes Spencer such an inspiring advocate is his ability to make conservation feel accessible, reminding us that protecting the natural world begins not with expertise, but with curiosity, compassion, and the willingness to care. When care spreads, species can recover. Through his example, the film affirms the idea that when we open our hearts to the unseen, we discover that protecting it is not simply an environmental responsibility, but an act of love.
See “Love Letter to the Unseen” screening at Cinema Nova July 18th as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
