The Whale is a gripping drama that marks a phenomenal comeback for actor Brendan Fraser, who plays a father trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Hollywood loves a comeback kid. Come and see if Fraser deserves to be back on top.
Genre: Drama
Language: English Subtitles: Dutch
Charlie lives a secluded life teaching English online. He is severely overweight and seems to have lost everything in his life. Still, full of hope, Charlie tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter Ellie. But she blames him for abandoning his family. We slowly discover how Charlie became the man we now see and how he still hopes to be a father to Ellie.
Charlie’s dire health crisis makes the ticking clock on his life clear from the start. We become part of a life that we want to look away from, but that moves us to tears. The acting (not only by Fraser), the cinematography and the setting all contribute to this heavy cinema experience. The film touches on (too) many different topics, but the performances will make you forget about any inconsistencies or flaws in the script.
Awards
The film recently won two Oscars: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Brendan Fraser) and Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling.
It was nominated for 114 awards in total and won 41 times.
Reviews
“This is a film that stays with you and changes you. It is heavy, indeed.” The Associated Press
“Fraser becomes Charlie and infuses him with intelligence, pathos, humor and heart. It is one of the best performances of the year in one of the best movies of the year.” Chicago Sun-Times
“Alongside The Wrestler, The Whale is Aronofsky at his most compassionate. It’s a gargantuan invitation to empathy and understanding.” CineVue
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos. Buying a ticket online in advance is mandatory if you want to attend this film. You can buy a ticket by clicking on the black “order” button on this page.
Please note: you can only buy a ticket online; tickets cannot be purchased with cash or bank card at the ticket counter.
For more general information about tickets, refund policies, etc., please click here.
Please be on time
The film starts at 19:30 sharp (no commercials). We kindly ask that you be at the ticket counter when it opens 15 minutes prior to the start of the film. This is to ensure that the film starts and ends on time.
The Studium Generale film program is selected in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.