The Whale
Overview
The Whale is a 2022 psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky, based on the 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter. The film stars Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher who is dying of congestive heart failure. The film is set entirely in Charlie's small, dark, cluttered apartment in Moscow, Idaho. Charlie is 600 pounds, and he is housebound. He is unable to leave his apartment, and he is cared for by his friend, Liz (Hong Chau), a nurse. He is estranged from his ex-wife, Mary (Samantha Morton), and his teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). The film follows Charlie as he tries to reconnect with Ellie, who is angry, cruel, and manipulative. He wants to help her, and he wants to leave her his money. The film is a meditation on grief, guilt, and the search for redemption. Charlie is a kind, gentle, and deeply sad man. He is filled with shame and self-loathing, but he is also capable of great love. He believes that people are incapable of not caring, and he tries to find the good in everyone. The film ends with Charlie standing up and walking toward Ellie, trying to reach her. He collapses, and he has a vision of his dead partner, Alan. He dies, and he is bathed in a white light. Brendan Fraser won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, a triumphant comeback after years of being blacklisted from Hollywood. The film also won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The Whale is a powerful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable film about the human capacity for love and redemption.
