WHALE takes place in a suburb about 15 minutes from my house. The typical cul-de-sac, planned community where kids are learning DARE, and going to ready made shopping centers to eat, then shop at Target.
What the film is, however is nothing at all cookie cutter. Its raw, funny, unrefined, a mess. But one thing I can attest to, is the emotional honesty in this thing. It rings true, and then the film becomes crystal clear, where in the first half hour, your not sure what to make of it.
This film deals with some grown up kids whom seem stuck in the past, or unable to move forward. It centers on a character named Cameron, who might have had a shot at being a somebody (a writer) in the past. This point is not clear, like much of the film's backstory. Instead, the film focuses on the now, leaving the past as ambiguous as the on and off again voice overs.
But, these voice overs, along with the sloppy but beautiful imagery, create a poetic film with lots to say, with hardly anything being said.
I related very well to this film, and growing up in a community where I always felt I didn't fully belong makes me realize that alternative visions exist, but they are hard to find.
I rate this film an 8 out of 10 for excellent acting, creativity and imagination. But it is far from perfect.
What the film is, however is nothing at all cookie cutter. Its raw, funny, unrefined, a mess. But one thing I can attest to, is the emotional honesty in this thing. It rings true, and then the film becomes crystal clear, where in the first half hour, your not sure what to make of it.
This film deals with some grown up kids whom seem stuck in the past, or unable to move forward. It centers on a character named Cameron, who might have had a shot at being a somebody (a writer) in the past. This point is not clear, like much of the film's backstory. Instead, the film focuses on the now, leaving the past as ambiguous as the on and off again voice overs.
But, these voice overs, along with the sloppy but beautiful imagery, create a poetic film with lots to say, with hardly anything being said.
I related very well to this film, and growing up in a community where I always felt I didn't fully belong makes me realize that alternative visions exist, but they are hard to find.
I rate this film an 8 out of 10 for excellent acting, creativity and imagination. But it is far from perfect.