19-25 January
2026
The Whale is a timely, heart-wrenching drama about self-hatred and destructiveness, and director Darren Aronofsky demands us not to look away from the film’s main character. It is a portrait of an obese man isolated in his apartment, trying to reconnect with his daughter before it might be too late.
Charlie (Fraser) is an English teacher in chosen isolation, compulsively eating fast food even though he knows it will mean his end. His devoted healthcare worker Liz (Hong Chau) has nearly given up, bringing him the food he wants in his apartment. Charlie’s self-hatred and lack of hope for a future are connected to grief, and in The Whale – based on Samuel D. Hunter’s critically acclaimed play – we gradually get to know more about his story. Director Darren Aronofsky severely forces us to care about the man, who at first might seem like a hideous character.
Redemption and a pure human instinct for caring about other people are a couple of The Whale’s strong emotional themes. Charlie has been overwhelmed with guilt over his abandonment of Ellie (Sadie Sink), but little by little a fragile bond is built between father and daughter.
Darren Aronofsky (b. 1969) is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who has directed films such as Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black Swan.
2017 mother!
2010 BLACK SWAN
2008 THE WRESTLER
2006 THE FOUNTAIN
2000 REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
Kl 19:00
Kulturhuset
Kl 11:30
Fokus 1
Kl 16:45
Fokus 1
Programme: | Competition |
Director: | Darren Aronofsky |
Country: | USA |
Year: | 2022 |
Run time: | 1h 57m |
Cast: | Brendan Fraser |
Source: | Nordisk Film |