As he nears her, a white light begins to engulf them and Charlie is lifted into the air until the light takes over completely; the final shot is the a younger Charlie on the beach with Ellie as a little girl, a memory. She reduces the gap between them and as she finishes the essay, he is lifted into the light. 5,514, This story has been shared 4,515 times. Charlie and Ellie smile at each other. The message is clear: Charlie has died. Turns out, the partner was none other than Charlie. All rights reserved. Its up to you to fill in the blank. With that, the movie ends. As he starts opening up to her, she secretly takes an audio recording of him. Ellie demands to know why Charlie failed her assignment and accuses him of purposefully screwing her over. While we never get to hear what it was that Ellie was glad for in her own life, its clear that this is the most impactful part of the essay for Charlie. He also has an estranged daughter, Ellie (Stranger Things' Sadie Sink) whose rebellious nature and indifference to school causes tension between her and her mother, Charlie's ex-wife Mary (The Walking Dead's Samantha Morton). 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 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. Christmas It cuts to the flashback at the beach with Ellie which was peaceful memory for Charlie hinting that it is the last memory he saw before he died. When it comes to the most anticipated movies of 2022, theres simply no way audiences can ignore The Whale. Did she write that she was glad family, perhaps? She also posts images of Charlie on Facebook. Charlie cant walk on his own and never leaves his house. In an interview with Digital Spy, the writer talked . the business The melodrama is a heartwrenching tale of Charlie, an English teacher who has let himself go and gotten morbidly obese after the passing of his partner. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. 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. Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here. She is angry at him for leaving her and cheating on her mother and for never staying in touch. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. It wants to be miraculous, either literally or figuratively, and I think you can watch it either way.". 2,918, This story has been shared 2,770 times. Moved by their honesty, he vows to be honest in return and turns on his web camera to show them his entire body. Your email address will not be published. Liz and Ellies mother, Mary (Samantha Morton), show up and discover that Ellie has drugged her father. "When she looks at it, she can't deny turning it in and getting a D, but then, here's her father, all these years later, being like, 'This is the best essay I've ever read.' What matters is that hes connected with Ellie, hes done the thing that hes been trying to do throughout this entire play, and that connection feels real and genuine. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The film's conclusion, however, might be more difficult for some viewers to read, so we asked Fraser and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter to break down what the final scene means for Charlie's journey. Editor's Note: The following are spoilers for The Whale. When Liz arrives and sees this (with Ellie's mom), she learns that Charlie convinced Ellie to spend time with him by offering the money. This is slightly different from how the stage version of The Whale ends, with a hard cut to black. Thomas, however, returns and finds Ellie instead and they begin a tense but curious friendship. PUBLIC Heres how it works. Both the play and the movie "The Whale" center on Charlie (Brendan Fraser), a reclusive, morbidly obese instructor of online writing classes who has been eating himself to death since the passing of his lover, a casualty of religious homophobia. Want more movie news? Whether Charlie dies at the end of The Whale is up for debate. Later, Liz visits while Ellie is there and Charlie reveals that he has plenty of money saved, and he promised it all to Ellie if she'd just keep visiting. "It's important because it's a Herculean effort that he makes to even get to his feet," Fraser says. Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Major spoilers ahead. Ellie agrees that she'll spend time with her father if he agrees to write her school assignments for her, but she struggles to contain her anger. After Charlie confirms that Thomas is being homophobic, he gets angry and starts recounting how they dated and made love and describes his body which disgusts Thomas who runs away. But the endings overall effect echoes the final moment of its source material, which actors and directors whove staged the popular play consider to be a release that, when performed, feels communal and generally satisfying for the audience in the room. 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. Charlie is also visited by his teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he hasnt seen since she was 8 years old. Bath The movie has made it clear throughout that Charlie only has about a week to live, and is careful to denote each day of the week. MLB ", "He's struggling this entire film to put a mirror up to his daughter to say, 'This is who you are,' and in those final moments, that mirror is this essay," Hunter explains. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Brendan Fraser's emotional performance will move you to tears in new trailer for, Golden Globes nominate Brendan Fraser after, Brendan Fraser tears up discussing his kids and, Brendan Fraser reveals why he turned down Disney's. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are a wealth of reasons to be excited about the 2022 American drama movie, mainly because its been teased as Brendan Frasers triumphant comeback. 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. Thank you for signing up to Whattowatch. The Whale is now playing exclusively in movie theaters. Whether he is in the afterlife, or reliving his favourite memory before his death, or whether this is simply a moment from the past for the audience's eyes that's up to you. She goads him into taking to his feet, knowing well that he likely can't and that it would make him very uncomfortable to do that without even having the assistance of his walker but she takes it from him anyway and makes him prove himself, and he can't.". She's cross, she's angry for the sadness she feels, and that's how this 17-year-old brilliant kid comports herself. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). After she threatens Thomas into smoking marijuana and takes his photo, he is upset and locks himself in Alans room. SOCI Charlie refuses to go, citing the fact that he has no money and cant afford the hospital bills. NOTICE: Spoilers ahead for The whale. | Credit: A24 "Ellie torments him, when she cases him out the fist time. After Mary leaves, Charlie goes on a binge eating session that ends in him vomiting. Liz, however, is not pleased by Thomas' visits and dissuades him from returning by revealing that she and Alan were adopted by the Church leader, and it was Alan's inability to reconcile his sexuality with his faith that contributed to his death. Has the EUs Graphene Flagship hit its 10-year targets? The movie sees Fraser play an English teacher named Charlie who is suffering from severe obesity and is told if his unhealthy ways go unchecked it could ultimately kill him. Follow on Letterboxd (opens in new tab). By Gabriella Geisinger 27 Feb 2023 The Whale has received heaps of critical acclaim, but is not. His goal is self-destructive, but you want the audience to understand what has driven him to do this, and that his redemption is in the relationship he tries to forge with his daughter. Hunter, who also adapted the screenplay for film, based the story on his own experience with obesity in college. His goal is self-destructive, but you want the audience to understand what has driven him to do this, and that his redemption is in the relationship he tries to forge with his daughter. Still, star Brendan Fraser has been nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award, alongside his co-star Hong Chau as Best Supporting Actor. How the Government Can Help You Market Your Idea with a Loan, Top 10 Inventor Loans + Financing Tips Expert Guide. By Kyle Buchanan. What does Unforgotten series 5's final twist mean? The Whale Ending Explained#thewhale #thewhalea24 #a24Indiegogo Linkhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/minced-meatMake sure to like this video, subscribe to o. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 2023 TheReviewGeek. Within these confined spaces, the actors who played Charlie each wearing body suits weighing anywhere from 30 to 100 pounds charted his arc physically and emotionally. 1,685, This story has been shared 1,682 times. Thomas believes Alan died because he turned his back on God and gave into the flesh, aka homosexuality. Charlie agrees. Hunter, who also adapted the screenplay for film, based the story on his own experience with obesity in college. 1,588, This story has been shared 1,059 times. TEC08 The intention is that, by the time Charlie shares that hes giving his life savings to Ellie, and endures great pain to stand up and walk toward her as she reads her Moby Dick essay aloud to him, the audience would feel the overwhelming fulfillment Charlie gets during his final breath in the play. Every night, it was a journey, and it wasnt easy to watch or to perform, recalled Tom Alan Robbins, who starred in the 2012 world premiere in Denver. Brendan Fraser stars in the film adaptation of The Whale.. Charlie thrusts an essay about Herman Melvilles Moby Dick into Thomass hands and instructs him to read it. A24. The Whale ending explained: On the last day of his life, Liz returns to Charlie to take care of him. As she reads, he stands and walks towards her (which he was unable to do during their first visit). Ellie is an exceptionally angry teenager and is exceedingly cruel to her father. For example, the 2014 Bay Area run raised the Marin Theatre 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 Jasson Minadakis. 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Mary comes with Liz when she hears about Ellie hanging out with Charlie and is shocked to see his appearance. But before that can happen, Charlie is determined to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink). 954, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), 'Wheel of Fortune' Gets Awkward as Pat Sajak Snaps at Contestant for Grabbing Wheel: "Don't Touch That", 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved, New Movies on Streaming: 'The Whale,' 'Knock At The Cabin,' + More, Where Was The Whale Filmed? It was an essay Ellie wrote when she was younger and that Charlie tells her is a good, honest piece of writing. In the meantime, Ellie says she hates Charlie and leaves with the essay he wrote for her. Brendan Fraser as Charlie in The Whale. All Rights Reserved. It is later revealed that the essay was written by his daughter, Ellie. However, it is based on a play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter. Liz seems to realize that she is saying goodbye to Charlie, and tells him shell wait downstairs. Charlie, for once, stands up for himself, and more or less tells Thomas to piss off. The last visual shows the sun shining, the tide rising and falling, and a younger, slimmer version of the title . Dont worry, Decider is here to help. . Alice in Borderland season 2 ending explained. That's where things get fantastical, as Fraser calls the final sequence an act of "contrition" for Charlie, in which he's "liberated" after finally breaking through her defensive armor, reaffirming to Ellie that he sees her for the person she is and always was. TOPCMB EMRG She cries as she wants him to go to the hospital when he cries in pain. 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Mary tells Charlie one reason she kept Charlie away from Ellie is that she was afraid Ellie would hurt him. Reyna de Courcy and Shuler Hensley play daughter and father in The Whale at New Yorks Playwrights Horizons in 2012. 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. Charlie tells Liz that he believe Ellie ratted. 'The Whale' ending explained as Brendan Fraser breaks down that heartbreaking final scene between Charlie and Ellie. Hes just been saving all of it to give to Ellie. But if you've already seen The Whale and want to get some clarity on what happened in that ending, we've got you covered. 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. Nope explained: Jean Jacket, Gordy's Home and more, Knives Out 3: Everything you need to know. 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. ET. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. In his final webinar class, Charlie reveals he has been fired. 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