Noted for his surreal, melodramatic and disturbing elements, the American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is known for his psychological fiction. Played by a Canadian-American actor who is well-known for his roles in George of the Jungle, Bedazzled, School Ties and The Mummy Returns, Brendon Frasier is most well-known for his Oscar-nominated role in the movie – The Whale.

Using 300 pounds of prosthetics (a prosthetic suit), 6 hours a day to apply makeup and CGI (computer-generated imagery), Brendon was able to deliver the most impressive performance of his screen career. 

With makeup artists applying fake skin over his face and neck, Brendon has delivered a monumental role as Charlie- a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher who hides in his flat, eating his way to death. 

He is also desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter (Ellie) for a last chance at redemption after abandoning her when she was just 8 years old and his ex-wife Mary. 

The core message of the movie is straight-out clear that we don’t really reveal who we are to people because we are afraid that we will be judged or reprimanded; this is exactly the case with Charlie. We are afraid that people will tell us exactly who we think we are and in turn, internalise the pain, thereby living with guilt and shame. 

On a 14-hour and 30-minute flight back to Mumbai, I began watching this heart-touching film and was completely immersed in it. Although a rather morbid movie, it is hard not to relate to Charlie and get sucked into it. After leaving his wife when his daughter Ellie was just 8 years old, he also realises he is gay and has fallen in love with a man (Alan)

Alan was a man who was part of a New Life Church which his father used to run. He was also a student in the night school where Charlie taught. Alan was a staunch church believer and even used to do missionary work. His father had also arranged his marriage with a girl that he did not know. However, Alan was deeply in love with Chalie and was also very ashamed of the fact that he was gay. As a result, he committed suicide. 

This made Liz (Alan’s sister) develop a strong hatred towards the Church. Alan’s death leads to Charlie experiencing a lot of depression, where he begins to binge eat and grow so obese that he develops a heart condition where he would die of congestive heart failure very quickly. 

Refusing to visit a hospital, as he has no health insurance Charlie continues to order pizza and walks closer towards death. Not only does he continue to order pizza, but he is too ashamed to pay the delivery man and he leaves the money for the same in the mailbox! Charlie keeps his interaction with the delivery man very strict and only shouts out at him through the door. 

However, Liz is his only friend and nurse. One cannot help but feel the angst of pain as Charlie refuses any sort of medical help.

The Whale | Official Trailer 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWiQodhMvz4

A number of complex issues arise throughout the film such as health, sexuality, loneliness, guilt and religion. 

Nine years later, his estranged daughter  Ellie (as played by Sadie Sink) shows up at his house. Not only is she troubled, brusque and an angry teen but she shows absolutely no respect for her father- Charlie. She is under full custody of her mother (Mary). However, realising that he is soon going to die, he tries to reconcile with his daughter offering to pay her $120,000 and help her with school in exchange that she hangs out with him. Ellie negotiates that he should write all her essays so that she graduates.

When Charlie is unwell one day, Thomas – a church missionary turns up at his door and Charlie requests him to read him an essay to calm him down. Although Thomas is a church missionary he too has a baggage of issues from his past when he used to be addicted to drugs. 

Ellie, who too develops a bond with Thomas can really see through Thomas. A complex situation begins to gulf around Thomas and Ellie leading to Thomas returning back to his home. 
  

A movie which highlights how significant family and religion are part of one’s life, The Whale will not only make you feel proud of Brendon’s momentous career leap!