The Whale movie storyline. The story follows a 600-pound reclusive English teacher, Charlie (Brendan Fraser), who has decided to eat himself to death. Charlie’s pain and misery come from the abandonment and death of his gay lover, which leads to his chronic binge-eating. At the same time, Charlie tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter for one last chance at redemption.
Idaho, 2016. Scarred by the profound wounds of grief and guilt, couchbound Charlie, an online writing instructor living with chronic obesity, now has a crystal-clear view of his secret intentions. And confined to his claustrophobic and musty apartment, the self-destructive shut-in has all the time in the world to contemplate the damaging faults of the past, fatherhood, and reconciliation. Because, more than anything, flawed Charlie longs for communication and reconnection. After all, he hasn’t spoken to his estranged, angry teenage daughter Ellie in years. But everyone knows whales don’t live in the shallows. Do love and forgiveness have the power to wipe away the tears and the painful mistakes of a lifetime?
The Whale is a 2022 American drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his 2012 play of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. The plot follows a reclusive English teacher with morbid obesity who tries to restore his relationship with his teenage daughter.
The Whale premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022. It had a limited theatrical release in the US on December 9, before a wide release on December 21 by A24, grossing over $54 million against a budget of $3 million. The film received a polarized response; though critics lauded the acting, particularly Fraser, Chau and Sink, the film’s portrayal of obesity-related struggles drew some criticism. For his performance, Fraser won the Academy Award, Critics’ Choice Award and SAG Award for Best Actor, while the film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Chau was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Director’s Statement
Cinema can connect us to another no matter how different they may seem on the surface. People struggling with obesity are often judged, dismissed, and defined by it. When I saw Sam Hunter’s play eight years ago, I marveled at the depth of his characters, especially Charlie, and was inspired to use the silver screen to put audiences in Charlie’s shoes, to steep in his deepest thoughts, regrets, and hopes.
But where would I find my Charlie? I needed a great talent that could glow through the makeup, an actor with a whale-sized heart and a pure soul. As soon as I met Brendan, I knew I had met Charlie. There’s something ineffable in him that brings Sam’s character to life and transports us—mind and body—into what might have been unknowable.
The Whale (2022)
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan, Jacey Sink
Screenplay by: Samuel D. Hunter
Production Design by: Mark Friedberg, Robert Pyzocha
Cinematography by: Matthew Libatique
Film Editing by: Andrew Weisblum
Costume Design by: Danny Glicker
Set Decoration by: Lisa Scoppa
Art Direction by: Jurasama Arunchai
Music by: Rob Simonsen
MPAA Rating: R for language, some drug use and sexual content.
Distributed by: A24 Films
Release Date: September 4, 2022 (Venice), December 9, 2022 (United States)
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