Charlie sobs that he is sorry for leaving Ellie. The final moments of this play and this movie abandon realism a little bit, and its no longer about this guy in this apartment, he explained. 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. Mary leaves, and Thomas arrives to reveal that he's going home; Ellie sent his confession to his youth group, but they accepted his apology. His wheezing starts getting worse and he has to breathe through an oxygen tank. 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. The Interest Of Love Episode 16 Recap, Review & Ending Explained, Crash Course in Romance Episode 9 Recap & Review. Nope explained: Jean Jacket, Gordy's Home and more, Knives Out 3: Everything you need to know. Its a brilliant ending, because audience members have constantly told me they couldnt breathe afterwards. 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. Adam Magill, left, and Nicholas Pelczar in The Whale at the Bay Areas Marin Theater Company in 2014. The Whale trailer cr. While Charlie is dying, he has an epiphany and claims that Ellie was not trying to hurt Thomas but help him as people are inherently good. Reyna de Courcy and Shuler Hensley play daughter and father in The Whale at New Yorks Playwrights Horizons in 2012. When I started writing The Whale, I think it all just came pouring out of me.. thank you @A24 @SadieSink @TYSIMPKINSactor #BrendanFraser #hongchau pic.twitter.com/6CZUcSyGSX. CMPNY When she sees the shape Charlie is in, she uncertainly asks Liz whats wrong. By Kyle Buchanan. 2023 TheReviewGeek. 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. COVID Hunter was brought on to write the adaptation of his play for the movie version of The Whale, which more or less follows the same format. The Whale ending explained As the narrative develops we discover that Charlie is gay and began to spiral into obesity after his former lover and student Alan died. 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 tacked it on without discussing it with him. . Meanwhile, a young man named Thomas shows up to preach to Charlie about the New Life church; Charlie entertains him and the two strike up a strange bond. You want that last second to be a combination of incredible pain and incredible triumph because, however briefly it is that they connect, its still an achievement for him., Ellie says terrible, devastating things to Charlie throughout the whole thing, but he loves her so much that it doesnt even hurt him, said Matthew Arkin, who played Charlie at South Coast Repertory. | Credit: A24 "Ellie torments him, when she cases him out the fist time. With a massive effort, Charlie walks toward Ellie. The Whale is based on a 2012 play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter. Audiences are now able to watch The Whale, the drama that is being billed as Brendan Fraser's career-defining performance. 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. It would go on to win numerous awards, including the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play, a 2013 Drama Desk Special Award for Significant Contribution to Theaters, the 2013 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New York Theater and more. When we first see Charlie, he gets some kind of attack while he is jerking off to porn. 1,712, This story has been shared 1,685 times. Even though she is angry, she loves him. Hes the whale!). Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Charlies health is rapidly declining. At that moment, a New Life missionary, Thomas comes knocking and Charlie begs him to read the essay for him. But in an interview with editor Andrew Weisblum for the films press notes, it seems clear that the filmmakers intended this scene to indicate the end of Charlies life, and that it mirror the first scene that Charlie has with Ellie. All Rights Reserved. And then it has this really cathartic release at the end of the piece a blackout, a sound effect, and a moment where the audience just lived in that silent darkness together.. The accolades it has garnered already, however, have piqued people's interests. MTPIX 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. At that moment, Thomas comes and tells Charlie the truth about himself. 4,515, This story has been shared 3,273 times. 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Throughout The Whale, Charlie is visited by his estranged and troubled daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink) and his frustrated ex-wife, Mary (Samantha Morton), both of whom Charlie abandoned when he ended his marriage and came out as gay; Liz (Hong Chau), a conflicted caregiver who is also the sibling of Charlies late lover; and Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a fundamentalist missionary who is far from home. In other news, Peaky Blinders's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet. The character is an amalgamation of Hunters past lives: as a closeted gay kid attending a fundamentalist Christian school in rural Idaho, a depressed adult who silently self-medicated with food, and an expository writing instructor for college freshmen (the pieces heartbreakingly honest line I think I need to accept that my life isnt going to be very exciting is an actual submission from one of Hunters students). Turns out, the partner was none other than Charlie. He then finishes every food item in the house and pukes it out. (Get it? Charlie agrees. After his breakdown in which he binge eats and gets stressed, his condition worsens. All rights reserved. TEC08 Mary had sent it to him and he apologizes for leaving Ellie and describes her and the essay as amazing. NEWS1 However, hes almost out of money and he cant go back because he will be disowned. When Will 'Jesus Revolution' Movie Be Streaming? 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. Have something to tell us about this article? After Charlie calms down, Thomas asks why Charlie asked him to read it. Thomas also wants to be redeemed by bringing Charlie back to religion and puts forth tremendous effort to do so. The Whale Explained | Ending + Plot Details | Brendan Fraser The Nerd Doc 9.5K subscribers Subscribe 1.3K Save 77K views 2 months ago #TheWhale #BrendanFraser #EndingExplained Almost yours: 2. The last visual shows the sun shining, the tide rising and falling, and a younger, slimmer version of the lead 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. 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. The Whale was filmed in New York State, primarily at a studio in Newburgh, New York, which is a city in New York's Hudson Valley region. Alan truly believed in the church and even went to South America to do missionary work. The last visual shows the sun shining, the tide rising and falling, and a younger, slimmer version of the lead character, Charlie, staring out into the ocean as his daughter plays in the sand behind him. The Whale ending explained: What happened to Brendan Fraser's Charlie? The following contains spoilers from the movie "The Whale," now playing in theaters. 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 character is an amalgamation of Hunters past lives: as a closeted gay kid attending a fundamentalist Christian school in rural Idaho, a depressed adult who silently self-medicated with food, and an expository writing instructor for college freshmen (the pieces heartbreakingly honest line I think I need to accept that my life isnt going to be very exciting is an actual submission from one of Hunters students). The moviewhich is now available to purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Videois a relentlessly uncomfortable and cruel two hours documenting the (spoiler alert!) There was a problem. "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.' continents and regions 'Mandalorian' Funko Pops up to 77% Off Baby Yoda and More for Season 3, Who Plays the Armorer in 'The Mandalorian'? England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Charlie reveals he used the essay Ellie wrote when she was eight about Moby-Dick. Adapted from Samuel D. Hunter's play, "The Whale" is the story of an English teacher who is suffering from an eating disorder and other unresolved issues in his life. Charlie shares a memory of going to the beach with Ellie and Mary and swimming in the ocean. As he begins to actively have a heart attack, Ellie turns to leave. 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. He says he wants to save at least one person and thought it could be Charlie. 4 Feb 2023. 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. Darren was recently interviewed by the AV Club and was asked what conversations he wishes to start with The Whale: I guess its all about connecting with people you wouldnt normally connect with. With the church being his life, it got to him as Alan did not eat or sleep in his last few days. Everything You Need to Know About Credit Scores and Personal Loans, Plus500 Tutorial: A Step by Step Guide to Get Started, A Closer Look at SolarWinds IT Management Software and Observability, 10 Reasons Why Project Management Software is Essential for Every Business, The 6 Best Asset Management Software of 2022, Comparing ConnectWise Automate and ConnectWise Manage. final week of a 600-pound man, who has isolated himself from the world, and is now facing imminent death due to health issues caused by his weight. ET. When Charlie learns that Ellie is in danger of flunking out of high school, he offers to help her with her upcoming essay. The finale kicks off with a bittersweet triumph for Arisu and the gang. Did she write that she was glad family, perhaps? Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. 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