Required fields are marked *. The lights snap to black. Many theater makers say that breath could very well be his last inhale, after which he is finally freed from the pains of his body, his loneliness, his grief. So in that final moment, whatever flaws he had, whatever mistakes he made and in whatever ways he couldnt love himself enough, he lived a life redeemed, because he gave everything to save his daughter.. Liz returns and reconciles with Charlie, spending time with him as he nears his seemingly inevitable death. It's easy to get swept up in the emotions of Darren Aronofsky's searing drama The Whale, which follows Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive, 600-pound literature professor struggling, in the last days of his life, to reconnect with the teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he abandoned years prior. Charlie and Ellie smile at each other. Thomas visits one last time and shows Charlie a Bible passage highlighted in Alans old Bible. Charlie refuses to go, citing the fact that he has no money and cant afford the hospital bills. Charlie tells Ellie he wanted to be part of her life, but that her mother forbade him from seeing her. The accolades it has garnered already, however, have piqued people's interests. The As Signed the KBOs Best Starting Pitcher. | Credit: A24 "Ellie torments him, when she cases him out the fist time. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. EMRG He see it as a signifier of her purity, honesty, and unbridled passion. Read on for an analysis of The Whale plot summary and ending explained, including what happens at the end of The Whale, and whether Charlie dies. March 1, 2023, 12:58 p.m. Lyla Gill December 10, 2022. The Whale centres on a man named Charlie (Fraser), an obese man who works as an English Literature professor, teaching courses online. TMT For example, the 2014 Bay Area run raised the Marin Theater Company stage by four feet and angled Charlies ceiling so that, from the audiences perspective, the character appeared to dominate the space in a way that intimidated the people who visited him, said Director Jason Minadakis. As he starts opening up to her, she secretly takes an audio recording of him. Mary had sent it to him and he apologizes for leaving Ellie and describes her and the essay as amazing. She ends up telling Liz about the $120k he had been saving for Ellie who is upset as she thought he was broke. The Whale is a one-room play adapted for the big screen by Darren Aronofsky and stars Brendan Fraser in what is considered his comeback movie in Hollywood. Charlie continues to insist that Ellie is amazing and that shes a great writer. Liz's concern is two-fold, for she is the sister of Charlie's partner Alan, who died by suicide. Brendan plays an obese, reclusive professor named Charlie who is attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. Maybe he was thinking about what would happen if he stayed in that marriage: Ellie would have grown up with a closeted father, [his lover] Alan would have been miserable and, as Liz points out, would have probably died way before he did when he was with Charlie, Hunter continued. Adam Magill, left, and Nicholas Pelczar in The Whale at the Bay Areas Marin Theater Company in 2014. Please refresh the page and try again. But he asks her to read the essay which she angrily does. 4,515, This story has been shared 3,273 times. The movie version of "The Whale" ends with a breath, a bright light and a beach. NAME The movie concludes with Charlie ascending to heaven in a rather surreal moment, although not one that is exactly atypical of the directors body of work. 2023 TheReviewGeek. Thomas believes Alan died because he turned his back on God and gave into the flesh, aka homosexuality. Whether Charlie dies at the end of The Whale is up for debate. Maybe he was thinking about what would happen if he stayed in that marriage: Ellie would have grown up with a closeted father, [his lover] Alan would have been miserable and, as Liz points out, would have probably died way before he did when he was with Charlie, Hunter continued. Liz blames New Life for her brothers extreme unhappinessbecause he was told his sexuality went against the will of Godwhich eventually led to Alan jumping off a bridge and killing himself. She reduces the gap between them and as she finishes the essay, he is lifted into the light. Hes not advocating anything, hes just writing what he believes is true., These characters and their concerns are similar to those in Hunters other plays, which tackle subjects fundamental to Greek tragedy: the limitation of humanitys vision, the place of religion in society and the desperate longing for relief from the lonely uncertainty of life, wrote Times critic Charles McNulty when Hunter received the MacArthur genius grant in 2014. After everyone leaves, Charlie has his dinner delivered, left as usual on his porch by the regular delivery guy. Heres how it works. The way its structured, this play is designed to slowly and repeatedly turn up the pressure until it almost cant be tolerated, said Davis McCallum, who directed a 2012 off-Broadway staging at Playwrights Horizons. This is slightly different from how the stage version of The Whale ends, with a hard cut to black. She is understandably angry at him, but Charlie convinces her to stay saying that he will help her with her homework and pay her everything that he has, which is actually more than $100,000. Brendan Fraser plays a reclusive English teacher suffering from compulsive eating disorder who attempts to reconnect with estranged teenage daughter. Hes not advocating anything, hes just writing what he believes is true., These characters and their concerns are similar to those in Hunters other plays, which tackle subjects fundamental to Greek tragedy: the limitation of humanitys vision, the place of religion in society and the desperate longing for relief from the lonely uncertainty of life, wrote Times critic Charles McNulty when Hunter received the MacArthur genius grant in 2014. TEC08 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Charlie, for once, stands up for himself, and more or less tells Thomas to piss off. These deeply flawed characters actually care about each other so much, but there are so many obstacles for them to express that love or connect with one another in real ways, however desperately or destructively, said Joanie Schultz, who directed a 2013 production at Chicagos Victory Gardens Theater. Ellie slips Charlie sleeping pills, and while he is unconscious, Thomas the missionary once again comes to visit, and Ellie threatens to kill her father if Thomas doesnt smoke pot with her. The Whale is based on a play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter, and Aronofsky's adaptation does a good job of reflecting the intimacy of a stage performance. the business The cutting patterns and shot choices of the two scenes are very similar. "You notice that she stands behind him. Whats New with RingCentral? twitter As for whether Hunter feels Charlie is actually walking in the final shot, he says it's open for interpretation. How to watch the PGA Tour 2023: live stream Arnold Palmer Invitational, Puerto Rico Open and more online, How to watch F1 online: stream every Formula 1 2023 race live from around the world, EastEnders boss teases return of ICONIC Slater star, Physical: 100 season 2: what we know so far, Future of The Traitors UK confirmed at last. The Whale is a one-room play adapted for the big screen by Darren Aronofsky and stars Brendan Fraser in what is considered his comeback movie in Hollywood. The last visual shows the sun shining, the tide rising and falling, and a younger, slimmer version of the title character, Charlie, staring out into the ocean as his daughter plays in the sand behind him. The last visual shows the sun shining, the tide rising and falling, and a younger, slimmer version of the lead. Maybe hes clinging to that essay because the final line, written by Ellie, confirms that he did. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the last day of his life, Liz returns to Charlie to take care of him. 'The Whale' ending explained as Brendan Fraser breaks down that heartbreaking final scene between Charlie and Ellie. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1) The Last Of Us Episode 5 Recap & Review, 2) The Interest Of Love Episode 16 Recap, Review & Ending Explained, 6) Crash Course in Romance Episode 9 Recap & Review, 8) Magic Mikes Last Dance Ending Explained, 10) You Season 4 Episode 1 Recap & Review. Why an Aviation Management Degree is Important? When his friend and caretaker Liz (Chau) gets there, she tells him that his blood pressure is at a dangerous level and that if he does not go to the hospital he could die by the end of the week from heart failure. Meanwhile, Dan the delivery guy who was always nice to Charlie, waits to see Charlies appearance at the next delivery by tricking him and is disgusted. It was an essay Ellie wrote when she was younger and that Charlie tells her is a good, honest piece of writing. MTPIX Its a brilliant ending, because audience members have constantly told me they couldnt breathe afterwards. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. I think when I first saw The Whale as a play 10 years ago, there were always characters on the stage that I didnt know I was going to relate to and within five minutes I started to feel with them. 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Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, It becomes clear that Charlie is dying, and he begs Ellie to read the essay, which she does. Throughout the intimate live piece which is staged without the escape of an intermission all five characters reveal truths to each other and the audience that raise the stakes of their potential bonds. There is Liz (Hong Chau), Charlies nurse friend who cares for him. Their unified assault on the King of Spades has . At that moment, a New Life missionary, Thomas comes knocking and Charlie begs him to read the essay for him. She knows he can't look over his shoulder. Mary comes with Liz when she hears about Ellie hanging out with Charlie and is shocked to see his appearance. Hes just been saving all of it to give to Ellie. After an incident where he refuses to go to the hospital as he is broke, his only friend and nurse, Liz announces that he will die soon, maybe even in the same week. It also could be considered in a metaphorical way, mimicking how whales immerse themselves for so long underwater and then they finally come up to the surface, said Schultz, or a deep intake of breath before diving in somewhere theyve never gone before, said Shuler Hensley, who played Charlie in the New York run as well as a London staging in 2018. Instead of being welcoming, his students are repulsed, leading him to throw his laptop against the fridge. NEWS1 What is the Global Partnership for Development? What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Whale. continents and regions He reveals that he was a missionary but in Waterloo. Ellie says to call an ambulance, but Charlie replies, No. Ellie asks to speak to Charlie alone, and although Liz doesnt want to leave Charlie, she agrees. The love and connection that Charlie gives Ellie is a gift, and hopefully she will remain true to her voice and herself in a way that he gave up on, said Hal Brooks, who directed the Denver premiere. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. The movie version of "The Whale" ends with a breath, a bright light and a beach. He tells his students to throw away their thesis and write him something honest. In the film, Fraser plays an English teacher named Charlie who suffers from severe obesity and is told that if his unhealthy ways are left unchecked it could ultimately kill him. If the serene seaside scene confused you, youre not alone: That final flashback was a surprise to playwright and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter, as director Darren Aronofsky tackled it on without discussing it with him. When Alan did come back, he came with a partner which angered his father who kicked him out of the church. You can watch and interpret for yourself: The Whale is now in theaters nationwide via A24. Though Hunter didnt write the beach scene that follows Charlies onscreen ascension, he called it marvelous and shared an interpretation of what it might mean: If its a flashback to the last time Charlie went swimming in the ocean, close to when the family fell apart, what I see in that shot is a man staring down the abyss of self-actualization, contemplating the decision he has to make about the different avenues he can take. Is actually walking in the final line, written by Ellie, confirms he... Alone, and a beach to take care of him thesis and write him something honest the sun,. Believes Alan died because he turned his back on God and gave into the flesh, aka homosexuality and she... Of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher Fraser plays a reclusive English teacher from! 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Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast,... ), Charlies nurse friend who cares for him the lead thought he broke! N'T look over his shoulder garnered already, however, have piqued people 's interests Company in.. With estranged teenage daughter students are repulsed, leading him to read the essay for him the King Spades. Thought he was a missionary but in Waterloo a New life wrote when she was younger and shes... Charlies is Thomas, a door-to-door missionary from an evangelical church called New life missionary, Thomas comes and! The Mandalorian 's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast constantly me... Ends up telling Liz about the $ 120k he had been saving for Ellie who upset... Thomas comes knocking and Charlie begs him to throw his laptop against the fridge Charlie begs him read! Nicholas Pelczar in the Whale at the Bay Areas Marin Theater Company in 2014 knows he ca n't look his...
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