3,796, This story has been shared 2,134 times. A pod of more than 50 pilot whales died Sunday after a mass stranding on the beach of a Scottish isle. 1,581, This story has been shared 1,459 times. Yes. 1,450, This story has been shared 1,268 times. However, she stops at the door, tearful, and decides to read it. So Far, Shop Amazon's 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Store For Merch and More, If You're Not Team Jeremiah In 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 2, You're Wrong, 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: "Love Game", 7 Shows Like 'Jack Ryan' If You Love Action Thrillers Brimming With International Intrigue, Jack Ryan Season 4 Ending Explained: Proof of Concept, 'Jack Ryan' Season 4 Episode 5 Recap: "Wukong", 'And Just Like That' Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: Fun, Fabulous, Not Tragic At All, Charlotte Triumphantly Trudges Through Snow to Buy Condoms so Daughter Lily Can Lose Her Virginity on 'And Just Like That', Carrie Finally Emails Aidan on 'And Just Like That'. On top of Fraser, Hong Chau also received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and the movie picked up a nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling. Despite this, Charlie is adamant that he will not go to the hospital, saying he can't afford it. Another visitor of Charlies is Thomas, a door-to-door missionary from an evangelical church called New Life. Carlin Glynn: 'Sixteen Candles' Star And Tony Winner Dead at 83, Confused AF by Oppenheimer? The Whale ending explained Charlies desire to help Ellie find happiness before he dies. Did she write that she was glad family, perhaps? The latest film from director Darren Aronofsky has certainly created its fair share of conversation. One character that played a minor role in Charlie's final days was the missionary, Thomas (Harley from the MCU). The Whale is not a masterpiece - The Guardian Auralcrave is a registered trademark. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). 'The Whale' garners controversy for not casting an actor with - NPR About halfway through "The Whale," Charlie tries to retrieve a key sitting atop a closed door - only for it to . The Whaleis one of those movies that want to make you feel uncomfortable. July 16, 2023 / 8:32 PM / CBS News. 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. 'The Whale' ending explained by the play's writer, actors, directors Moved by their honesty, he vows to be honest in return and turns on his web camera to show them his entire body. However, most theatrical portrayals end with a sharp intake of breath from Charlie before the lights are snapped out, rather than the levitation and envelopment of light shown in the film. The stories of their lives explained the message of The Whale, culminating in the ending. Wednesday season 2 everything you need to know, The 10 best action movies on Netflix to watch now, The 16 best comedies on Netflix to watch right now. Still, Ellie remains skeptical of Charlie during most of the film's running time. Brendan Fraser stars as the tragic character Charlie in The Whale, but how does the film end? It was an essay Ellie wrote when she was younger and that Charlie tells her is a good, honest piece of writing. As a result of this, Thomas came clean with his old youth group back in Iowa and plans to return there, but not before visiting Charlie and preaching to him, blaming Alan's death on his homosexuality, resulting in fury from Charlie. The Whale ending explained: Brendan Fraser breaks down Charlie and They did not see each other after she turned 8 as Mary got full custody after Charlie had an extramarital affair. She also posts images of Charlie on Facebook. Liz informs Charlie that his blood pressure is at a dangerous level, and that he needs to go to the hospital, or he will very likely die of congestive heart failure by the end of the week. However, despite all of that, by the time he passes, he is content with the fact that he was able to be unapologetically himself with those around him at the end and share a quiet moment with his daughter. Mary severed Charlie's contact with Ellie and wanted to raise her on her own which didn't work out well. Charlie didnt deserve a life where everything would point at him as a total failure. This essay that Ellie has written becomes a . 'The Whale': Brendan Fraser's Shocking Binge-Eating Scene Will There Be a Season 6 of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir? All rights reserved. Liz is furious that Charlie has refused to buy the medical care and equipment he needs, and storms out. The Mummy actor has certainly been missed on screens over the years and this leading role has been championed as his greatest to date, soon to be followed by a part in Martin Scorseses Killers Of The Flower Moon. How accurate is Oppenheimer to the true story? However, as with The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky left viewers wondering what happened when the movie ended. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Thats a magic movie. Charlie is also visited by his teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he hasnt seen since she was 8 years old. Related: Blast From The Past Is Brendan Frasers Most Important Role (Not The Whale). Defense is the only dynamic that drives them, and since they can be hurt by anything, every single presence in their lives becomes a threat. All rights are reserved. We learn that Lizs brother, Alan, was Charlies romantic partner, as well as a member of the New Life church. Liz returns and reconciles with Charlie, spending time with him as he nears his seemingly inevitable death. Charlie, a gay man, left Ellie and her mom when Ellie was 8 because he fell in love with one of his (adult) students. Thomas informs Charlie that Ellie sent his recorded confession to his church and parents, and that both parties forgave him, meaning he can finally go home. Read Decider's analysis of The Whale ending explained. The next day, Liz confirms that Charlie's time is almost up. 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. This is slightly different from how the stage version of The Whale ends, with a hard cut to black. . The unauthorized use and the copy of contents without express authorization is forbidden. Bloated Dead Whale Washed up on Irish Shore After Fears of Explosion Ellie is the angry teen daughter of Charlie with his ex-wife Mary who makes her classmates cry, is sarcastic and is bad at school. Spoilers Ahead 'The Whale' Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film? Mary says Ellie is evil, and shows Charlie a cruel picture of himself that Ellie posted on social media, mocking him. The Whale is out in UK cinemas from February 3. CREDIT: A24. When their daughter Ellie was eight years . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When Mary confronts Charlie about his newfound relationship with Ellie, even though its an arrangement of sorts, hes apologetic about his failures as a father but not about his sexuality. After Liz coaxes Charlie back to consciousness, she finds out that Charlie, despite his protests about hospital bills, does, in fact, have money. However, Charlie is cared for by his friend Liz who urges him to seek better medical care but he states he does not have the funds for it. The Whale stars Brendan Fraser as Charlie, Hong Chau as Liz, Sadie . As well as Brendan Fraser, The Whale stars Sadie Sink as Ellie, Charlie's daughter with whom he seeks to reconnect. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 'Outlander': Who Was the Real Daniel Morgan? Charlie is an emotional man driven by a quest of honesty and truthfulness, and much of The Whale follows his reckoning with his own past to live by the honesty he strives for. The Whale is now playing exclusively in movie theaters. Her mother thinks shes evil; her father believes shes perfect. The stories of their lives explained the message ofThe Whale, culminating in the ending. 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. Not only that, but its the latest film from acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky, who previously helmed Black Swan, The Wrestler, Requiem For A Dream, and more. thank you @A24 @SadieSink @TYSIMPKINSactor #BrendanFraser #hongchau pic.twitter.com/6CZUcSyGSX. In the opening moments, he becomes short of breath and nearly passes out. Charlie was constantly frustrated with the students he taught online because they would give him generic responses or write what they thought would please him enough to get a good grade. As Ellie reads about the whale in Moby Dick, Charlie stands to his full height, entirely on his own. He lives alone in a squalid apartment in Idaho, grieving a male lover, and is estranged from his. 5,821, This story has been shared 5,105 times. Listening to his story, we can try to understand how he feels: he had a wife and a daughter. The Whale premiered on December 9 and is an emotional psychological drama starring Fraser. With a massive effort, Charlie walks toward Ellie. After Charlie calms down, Thomas asks why Charlie asked him to read it. But before that can happen, Charlie is determined to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink). Charlie spends this time asking Ellie about her life, writing essays for her homework and also trying to convince her that she has a remarkable voice of her own. Rather than open up a stage-bound text, as a less confident film director might . Warning: This post contains major spoilers for The WhaleThe Whale ending explained that it is often hard to reconcile who you are with what you wished you could have been. Throughout the film, theres almost a perfect storm of negative occurrences in Charlies life that continuously lead him on the path of binge eating and worsening his physical and mental health. The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! He didn't care about his life anymore and just wanted to save his daughter. The inclusion of a memory to a family vacation with Charlie, Mary and Ellie may be just Charlie recalling happier times. *Spoiler warning for the end of The Whale**, Sign up to get alerts for movie news, reviews and recommendations. 6,355, This story has been shared 5,821 times. Because the movie is so bleak, I choose to interpret it as Ellie feeling grateful for both her mother and her father, who love her. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only 1 with delivery to your home subscribe now. What Time Is 'The Bachelorette' On Tonight? Culture Movies Reviews Inside Darren Aronofsky's messy movie The Whale is something wise about religious trauma The Whale is more than the movie where Brendan Fraser wears a fat suit. Theres this apotheosis that happens, and in the film, Charlie literally ascends off the ground.". On the last day of his life, Liz returns to Charlie to take care of him. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Bird Box Barcelona' on Netflix, a Spanish Spinoff of the Surprise Sandra Bullock Sci-fi Hit, Bird Box Barcelona Ending Explained: What That Cliffhanger Could Mean For Another Bird Box Movie. All Rights Reserved. Maybe hes clinging to that essay because the final line, written by Ellie, confirms that he did. Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, Hunter did not confirm Charlie's fate in regards to the play: "When asked about the ending, Hunter didnt clarify Charlies status because, he said, its not necessarily relevant. When Will 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Continue? All About Jamie's New Boss, Who Plays Simon Fraser on 'Outlander' Season 7? This story has been shared 58,579 times. Oscar winner The Whale is messy, but wise about religious trauma - Vox 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. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Mary tells Charlie one reason she kept Charlie away from Ellie is that she was afraid Ellie would hurt him. The Whale, starring Brendan Fraser, ends in a devastating way. Foundation season 2 episode 2 recap: Hober Mallow mystery, Best TV shows streaming this week: Netflix, Paramount Plus, Prime Video and more, Elizabeth Banks and Zach Galifianakis on the 'phenomenon' of The Beanie Bubble, Fifteen-Love cast: who's who in the Prime Video drama, Meet the Sweet Magnolias season 3 cast: who's who in the town of Serenity, The best Netflix shows to enjoy in July 2023, How to Blow Up a Pipeline cast: who's who in the thriller, Mayans M.C. Thomas also wants to be redeemed by bringing Charlie back to religion and puts forth tremendous effort to do so. His guilt destroys him, leading him to commit suicide. The Whale also touches upon the theme of being oneself no matter what others think. The movie has Brendan Fraser in an Oscar and Golden Globe nominated role, as a teacher who battles with an eating disorder that has left him at over 600 pounds and on the verge of death. View all posts by Carlo Affatigato. While Mary believes that Charlie has done harm to the family, she also believes that Ellie has done even more damage through her recent actions. The Whale wastes little time in showing just how poorly Charlie is doing wealth-wise. 5,105, This story has been shared 3,796 times. Yes, Charlie does die in The Whale and there are many things that lead to that unfortunate ending. In one last plea for them to be their authentic selves, Charlie broke his laptop and ended the call. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. He doesnt even try to restore the relationship with his daughter because he knows nobody in this world would want him in their lives. 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. This is the only way he feels will absolve him of his past mistakes. What is she glad for? Ellie steps toward Charlie. This results in tension when Charlie receives visits from Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a missionary from the church who faces debates with Charlie and anger from Liz. What to Know Before You Watch, Stream It Or Skip It: 'They Cloned Tyrone' on Netflix, a Rousing, Funny Genre-Mashup From Freshman Director Juel Taylor, Javon "Wanna" Walton, 17-Year-Old 'Euphoria' Star and Amateur Boxer, Partners with Jake Paul in Boxing Deal, Jamie Foxx Breaks His Silence On Health Scare: "I Went To Hell And Back", R.I.P. Is 'Cobweb' Streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video? She begins to read the next line of the essay, This book made me think about my own life, and then it made me glad for my but she cuts off. In a way that Aronofsky often does to integrate the spiritual and religious imagery thats present in his movies, he has Charlie ascend to heaven. The full essay is never read in the movie and always cuts off before that final line. Related: The Whale Confirms Sadie Sink Is Stranger Things' True Breakout Star. It's a striking . The ending is similar to the play on which the film is based, written by Samuel D Hunter. Liz later brings Ellie's mother Mary to Charlie's apartment and the parents end up rowing over Ellie, while Liz is furious to learn of the money that Charlie has not spent on his health and instead gives to Ellie, prompting Liz to abandon him. We can safely say that Ellie is not perfect, but we support Charlie in trying to understand her. Ellie read the Moby Dick poem and Charlie rose and attempted to walk like at the beginning. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast. Yes, Charlie does die in The Whale and there are many things that lead to that unfortunate ending. As Ellie concludes her reading, Charlie begins to float before being engulfed in white light - indicating his death and passing over to the afterlife. After Mary leaves, Charlie goes on a binge eating session that ends in him vomiting. Does Charlie Die in 'The Whale'? (SPOILERS) - Distractify 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. Here we break down the film's ending, and the layers behind its many themes. Charlie asks Ellie to read the Moby Dick essay to him one last time. 'The Whale' Ending Explained: In The Whale, Does Charlie Pass Away As we delve into how it ends, be forewarned: spoilers for The Whale follow. He decides to abandon his family and live with Alan. Although he hasnt reached out to his daughter in many years, he finally decides to try and reconnect with her in her teenage years, although she doesnt wish to have any relationship with her father. The stress and efforts he undertakes to be there for his family contribute to further binge eating and his physical condition continues to deteriorate, as does his mental state. The message is clear: Charlie has died. And whats the message the film wants to convey? How Did Brendan Fraser Transform For The Whale Movie? 'Barbie' Marks The Return of Edgy, Barely Kid-Friendly Blockbusters Like 'Ghostbusters', America Ferrera Looks Back On The Super Traumatic Backlash She Received After Sharing Her Sexual Assault Story During The #MeToo Movement, Is There an End Credits Scene in 'Barbie'? Is the Oppenheimer and Einstein scene accurate? Thomas, however, returns and finds Ellie instead and they begin a tense but curious friendship. 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. Identifying ourselves in Charlie, Ellie, and their stories, the meaning and the ending ofThe Whaleare explained: Charlie knows hes dying, and there is nothing hes doing to prevent it. When Ellie reads Charlies favorite line in the essayAnd I felt saddest of all when I read the boring chapters, that were just descriptions of whales, because I knew the author was trying to save us from his own sad story, just for a little while,Charlie imagines stepping into the ocean, all those years ago when he wasnt so obese. Spectators were obviously puzzled: what is the meaning of the ending? She always needed a loving father, and having it with so many years of delay is unbearable. Charlie also has a daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he wants to reconnect with, although she doesnt feel the same way. Registered in England. Does Charlie die in The Whale? Liz seems to realize that she is saying goodbye to Charlie, and tells him shell wait downstairs. In Sam Hunter's The Whale, readers are treated to a plethora of jarring imagery and emotional turmoil in the form of Charlie, a 600 pound dying man whose only connections with the outside world are Liz, a woman who cares for him; and his online class of students who could not care less about writing a decent scholarly paper. All he wants in life is to reconcile with his daughter and possibly help her, knowing she has a hard life of her own. Thomas reveals he ran away from home after stealing money from his youth group; Ellie secretly records the confession. Thankfully, the young missionary Thomas (Simpkins) is there to help him, reading an essay on Moby Dick that manages to help Charlie gain his composure. The Whale movie explained: Charlie, the ending & meaning 'The Whale' Misses the Mark | Vanity Fair Follow on Letterboxd. 'The Whale' Ending, Explained: Why Was Charlie Hopeful About - DMT Where could they have all ended up? Ellie demands to know why Charlie failed her assignment and accuses him of purposefully screwing her over. Thomas believes Alan died because he turned his back on God and gave into the flesh, aka homosexuality. 'The Whale' Ending Explained: Does Charlie Die? The Ending Of The Whale Explained - Looper Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film follows morbidly obese literature teacher Charlie (Fraser) as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink), who is torn up after. In 'The Whale' Brendan Fraser's character, Charlie, is battling inner and external demons throughout. The movie, while incredibly depressing, at least ended on a more positive note. The film has . A decomposing 60-foot fin whale corpse stranded on the Irish coast had to be abandoned by wildlife researchers looking to study it after concern that the dead mammal could explode. His sister Liz (Hong Chau) stops by periodically to take care of him. Ellie often delivers him fat-shaming and homophobic comments, showing her long-standing resentment of him leaving her. At the very end, Charlie is dying. The movie itself isn't particularly oblique, nor is the ending that ambiguous despite its artistic license. Charlie begs her to read her essay to him, and she relents. Charlie held that close to his heart because it was honest in a way he or his students never were. Based on Samuel D. Hunter's 2012 off-Broadway play of the same name, The Whale follows Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive 600-pound gay English teacher grieving the death of his partner,. This also allowed Charlie to see what he wanted, as he told Mary that Ellie was a good person because she helped Thomas reunite with his parents.