The Whale (2022 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Whale (2022 film) |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Darren Aronofsky |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Samuel D. Hunter |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Rob Simonsen |
| Cinematography | Matthew Libatique |
| Editing by | Andrew Weisblum |
| Studio | Protozoa Pictures |
| Distributed by | A24 |
| Release date(s) | September 4, 2022 (Venice) December 9, 2022 (United States) |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3 million |
| Money made | $36.7 million |
The Whale is a 2022 American psychological 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, and had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 9, before a wide release on December 21, by A24. The film polarized critics, though the cast's performances, particularly those of Fraser and Chau, received praise. It has grossed under $36.6 million against a budget of $3 million. Fraser won Best Actor at the 95th Academy Awards, 28th Critics' Choice Awards and 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and was nominated at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and 76th British Academy Film Awards. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Chau, as well as a nomination for the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture.
Contents
Cast
- Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a morbidly obese and reclusive English professor
- Sadie Sink as Ellie, Charlie's estranged daughter
- Jacey Sink as young Ellie
- Ty Simpkins as Thomas, a Christian missionary
- Hong Chau as Liz, a nurse who is Charlie's only friend
- Samantha Morton as Mary, Charlie's ex-wife and Ellie's mother
- Sathya Sridharan as Dan, a pizza delivery man
Production
Writing and casting
Aronofsky has said that he tried to get the film made for over a decade, but could not do it because he struggled to find the right actor to portray Charlie. After seeing portions of Fraser's performance in a trailer for Journey to the End of the Night (2006), he decided that Fraser could be a good choice.
On January 11, 2021, it was announced that A24 had obtained global distribution rights to The Whale, directed by Aronofsky and starring Fraser. Hong Chau, Sadie Sink, and Samantha Morton joined the cast in February, followed by Ty Simpkins in March. Sathya Sridharan joined the cast at an unknown date.
At one point, the film was set to star James Corden with Tom Ford directing, but Ford left due to creative differences. George Clooney also briefly considered directing the film, but ultimately declined.
Filming
Principal photography ran from March 8 to April 7, 2021, in Newburgh, New York. Post-production began later in April.
For the role, Fraser spent four hours each day being fitted with prosthetics that weighed up to 300 lb (136 kg). He also consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition and worked with a dance instructor for months before filming began in order to determine how his character would move with the excess weight.
Release
The Whale had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022, where it received a six-minute standing ovation. It made its North American premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022. It had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 9, 2022, then expanded to wide release on December 21.
The film was released for VOD platforms on February 21, 2023, with a Blu-ray and DVD release set for March 14, 2023.
See also
In Spanish: La ballena para niños
