The Lighthouse of the Whales (2016) User Reviews

Lighthouses? Orcas? I'm soooooooo there!!

[kurtorterri · 8/10 · 25 April 2017]

I recently viewed this movie on Netflix and was pleasantly surprised by this wonderful film, that had more heart and depth than most films in the cinema today. To be fair, I cannot help but be bias towards it, simply because my absolute fascination and love for Orcas is profound. As the apex creatures in the ocean, they continue to intrigue me by their amazing hunting prowess, social skills, and incredible intelligence. This film definitely showcases all three. The cinematography is breathtaking. Not only of the Orcas, but of the gorgeous landscapes and vistas of Argentina. I still can't stop smiling.

Overall, I found the story very touching. A mother's devotion to her child is fierce, and a child that has emotional issues and hindrances? Well, watch out. The lead actors (Joaquin Furriel, Maribel Verdu)in this film were wonderful, and I didn't feel that the story was in any way saccharine, or overly sentimental.

This was a very, very enjoyable film. Highly recommended!

An unusual friendship and rare benefit out of it.

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 24 July 2017]

I did not dig for detail to decide to watch this film. Just by reading the title I have come to know I should see this. But later I learnt that it was from the director of 'Brothers of the Wind' I review a year ago. They say it was the third film in the 'man and wild animal relationship' trilogy, but I've seen only this and the one I mentioned in the previous line. The other one, the first one is 'Among Wolves' that's surely I going to check it out as soon as possible.

The story revolves around a park ranger, Beto, from the remote place in the south of the Argentina. He has a special relationship with the Orcas that strays on the edge of the coast nearby a lighthouse. People come to pay to see them, but on one occasion a mother and her autistic son from Spain visit him. Initially he refused to help her, but later he changes his mind with a purpose in his mind. So the days go on and what follows after that are some unexpected development which leads to the film's conclusion.

Adapted to the screen from the novel by Roberto 'Beto' Bubas that he inspired to write by his real life event. Though initially I mean in the very first scene I thought it was so cruel. Not anybody wants to see that kind of opening. Especially not the kids or the families. If you are an animal lover, you would feel like that way as well. But very soon you will come to understand it is the way of nature and we're just a witness. Just like you watch Nat Geo and Animal Planet. Apart from that hurtful fact, the film was really good.

❝They (orcas) are my family in the sea. And I'm their friend on the coast.❞

The characters were awesome. It was a limited cast, that's because most of the film takes place in the isolated location with three main characters. Very slow narration, particularly you won't get much progression in the first half. Kind of feels like a documentary film, that focused on a national park ranger's life. But in the last half an hour everything changes. An unpredictable event comes into play to steer the narration swiftly towards the tale's climax.

At some point I thought it was another film in the 'Free Willy' series. If you had seen that trilogy + one (tetralogy) and when you see this, you would think only that way. Not just because of the man and orca relationship, but the way they presented on the screen was like directly borrowed from there. But most importantly, it was based on the real which surely erase that kind of thinking from the viewers.

It was just like any other film that portrays an autistic character. But at the beginning, it did not pay any attention to that role. The perspective of the tale was from the Beto, so he led to shaping the entire narrative, until the last moment. That's when the boy took over to bring most required reorder in the story you had seen so far to something new. They all well acted, with the beautiful locations in the front and the background. It was not a masterpiece, but definitely it is among its kind.

The direction must be praised. I really like him. He is like a travel filmmaker. Yesterday he made a European film, today a South American and tomorrow it could be an African or Asian. What I most impressed was, his films are not aimed at commercial benefits. But very artistic, and mostly factual like a documentary film with a light stroke of fantasy to add a better storyline to attract little folks. His target audience are children and the families, and obviously the animal lovers. So if you know him, his works, then you must not miss this flick. One of the satisfying films, despite not a flawless film.

7/10

Beautiful

[sophiahwright · 8/10 · 3 April 2019]

So beautiful and touching, I've never seen a movie quite like it

special story

[Kirpianuscus · 27 October 2017]

...in Patagonia. a mother. her son. a stranger. and a cure. the whales. and a beautiful state of soul. because it is one of rare films escaping to definitions. it is well acted, it has a beautiful script and a provocative subject. short, it is one of trip - films . not only in a magnificent region of Argentina but in the middle of feelings, emotions, expectations, hopes and transformation, step by step, for each character. in the point when the viewer becomes one of them. short, an admirable work. about basic, fundamental things.about forms of solitude. and about future.and, sure, about a meet changing everything.

I Wanted it to be a 10

[shesheray · 6/10 · 23 June 2017]

I found this film entertaining but ultimately predictable. The formula of turning the lead character, Lola, from a plain, stressed out woman into a made-up beauty with warmth in her eyes for someone other than her son was pretty hackneyed. I also found it unrealistic to see how she, a neglected and deserted wife and mother, got herself from Spain to Argentina, with few resources. Did she have a sponsor? Then there was this question: Is it even possible for an autistic child to be "cured"? The little boy's performance was remarkable, and quite believable. I really wanted to like the film more, but kept thinking it was too good to be true, and was waiting for more chemistry to explode between Beto and Lola. Perhaps I have seen too many movies like this and am jaded. For my money, the scene with the sheep-shearing festival was the most earthy, moving and emotional, with the folk singing and dancing. I loved the cinematography and musical score also.

Gorgeous Spanish/Argentina co-production with wonderful outdoors and marvellous animals

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 11 March 2019]

The Lighthouse of the Orcas (Spanish: El faro de las orcas) is a 2016 Argentinean/Spanish drama film well directed by Gerardo Olivares , being released on December 16, 2016. Beto Bubas (Joaquín Furriel) is a loner man who works as a watcher on an isolated location in Peninsula Valdes . Then , there takes place the arrival of Lola , a Spanish mother (Maribel Verdú) with an autistic child , Tristán (Joaquín Rapalini) , both of whom go away from Madrid , Spain , to Argentina and finding outstanding surprises . They go to a marvelous place to dream and looking for Beto after both watch him in a documentary about whales or Orcas . Desperate, Lola asks for help Beto in order to make a therapy for her 11 years old son Tristán , hoping that his isolation caused by the autism can be overcome . Reluctant at the beginning , Beto agrees to help Tristán . As days go by, in the same way that Beto's chief attempts to fire him in the belief that Orcas are perilous killers whales , Lola realizes about a family trouble in Spain and them Lola and Beto fall in love .

Sensitive and enjoyable story with ecological message , brief description about Argentinean social habits , including local dancings , and an attractive love story in which a couple learns about the feelings between them. The plot is plain and simple : In trying to help her son find an emotional connection, a mother travels with her autistic son to Patagonia to meet a ranger and wild orcas . Here stars a disturbing mother for her autist son who early though slowly begins to express emotions, and a lonely rebel ranger who attempts to heal him , while defying the rules that prevent touching Orcas and swimming them . As filmmaker camerawork shoots gorgeous sea landscapes , and blue Ocean , in fact director Olivares has been travelling to places like North Cape in Norway or the Artic Circle and this Peninsula Valdes' National Park (Chubut, Argentina) . Being based on a true story about Roberto "Beto" Bubas , a ranger in Chubut, Patagonia Argentina , it is well shown in the final scenes , in documentary style , including the Killing Whales or Orcas , the only ones that cause emotional responses in the little boy . Maribel Verdú gives a decent acting , as usual , as a mummy looking to help her son to connect with his emotions . Joaquin Furriel is acceptable as a watcher who spends his days watching orcas , seals and sea lions in the sea , and helping Lola'son to connect , live and feeling by sailing along the coast on a boat to meet orcas . They are nice accompanied by a good support cast as Ana Celentano as Marcela , Ciro Miró as Manolo and the prodigy child Joaquín Rapalini or Quinchu Rapalini as Tristán

It packs a colorful and charming cinematography by Oscar Durán , shot on location in Peninsula Valdés . As well as a rousing and touching musical score by Pascal Gaigne . The motion picture was professionally directed by Gerardo Olivares . This film was nominated in Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 2017 , Nominee CEC Award Best Actress : Maribel Verdú and Best Adapted Screenplay : Gerardo Olivares , Lucía Puenzo , Sallua Sehk . Gerardo has collaborated with some channels like TVE -Spanish Television-, Discovery Channel and National Geographic . Since 2006, Gerardo Olivares changes the documentaries for fiction movies and he will be known for La Gran Final (2006), 14 Kilómetros (2007) , Entrelobos (2010) and 4 Latas (2018) with Jean Reno . In his life, Gerardo Olivares has been in more than 100 countries and filmed over than 80 documentaries. All this has been collected in his documentaries, sold all over the world for the most important television channels. The movie will appeal to lovers of the nature and animals . Rating : 6.5/10 . Better than average Well worth seeing . Essential and indispensable watching for Nature lovers and sea animals enthusiasts .

Beautifully shot..rest of it cliche'

[garycn-41901 · 6/10 · 21 June 2021]

Very beautiful backdrops.. that is NO doubt.. But right away you have this one pretty much figured out as the director relys on old cliches to build this film..

I am not saying its not worthy of watching.. it is..just dont expect to be blown away with originality... Its a decent film but I chose not to add this to my home library.

Even though my use of Spanich is aged I felt every emotion, treasured each character.

[halbing · 10/10 · 19 June 2017]

Having flown into Argentina several times, piloting,I found this an entirely new experience in geography, landscape. Never thought I'd see such difference from the pampas, in the beauty of Patagonia, and especially the ORCAS. Most of all the character developments, sensitivity so true to these great writer's composition. Something within it expresses happenings in most all of us, I think. Hal Bingaman

Netflix found a formula

[ritalullaby · 4/10 · 9 May 2020]

As Netflix found a formula to make people cry and this is just another example. So predictable. But clearly written for people who don't have children. No mother would let her child get into the water alone with a stranger, with or without autism is just not believable. And we see a mother desperate to find some relief for a child and being protective to kind of let that go for a man. Not how you make a good script people !

Great movie!

[ximeaguirre · 10/10 · 25 July 2017]

Loved it! The landscape and beautiful whales. But I watched this with a friend that kept on saying that those whales were props and not real. I would like to know if this is a possibility . Because I thought the whales were real. Can anybody answer this for me?

I recommend this movie it's well done.

This movie is just a cliché

[seupaolo · 3/10 · 12 March 2020]

A lonely man with a "penetrating glance" who rides a white horse in a beautiful landscape and comunicates with killer whales... if this is the recipe I'm stuffed after 5 minutes. The plot is so obvious that you can easily guess the next line. The images of the orcas are ruined by obvious photomontage techniques. As for me, seeing it on netflix, just a waste of time!

thank you Pascal and all the musicians for such beautiful music,

[fionntainmacb · 11 January 2018]

A truly stunning film. Inspirational. Powerful. A celebration of the magic in nature. Thank you Pascal and all the musicians for such beautiful music. Thank you to Gerardo, Jose Maria, Lucia, Sallua, Joaquin, Joaquin, Maribel, all the actors and the behind the scene team. A beautiful film which brought a tear to my eye :-)

simply - good movie, and a rare one in it.

[dragon53northern · 9/10 · 20 July 2017]

Excellent. from any aspect... story, environment, nature, acting, cinematography, directing, editing, soundtrack, ... sensitive to nuances, does not overload the viewer with extra gestures or explanations, sincere, ... simply - good movie, and a rare one in it.

The Lighthouse of the Orcas (2016) is a beautifully done movie that treats the subjects of autism and man's relationship to orcas with a deft touch.

Beautiful story but boring movie.

[hhbarboza · 5/10 · 6 May 2020]

A long boring movie!!! This movie is too quiet for me. Beautiful real story.

Beautiful and original themescape.

[dmaestoso · 10/10 · 18 April 2018]

Finally got chance to see what Patagonia is like. When search results for "Out of Africa" in Netflix, this movie outranks top 3. The editing job was just right without time a wasting but there's few scenes I wish footage could add its closeup shots.

One to really enjoy

[jbandahalf · 8/10 · 3 February 2022]

I'm always on the lookout for those smaller budget movies that have characters worth caring about, beautiful cinematography, haunting music and a story that matters. This movie ticks all those boxes.

Everything about it was authentic and genuine. The music score blended in so well with the isolated and stunning landscape.

Highly recommended for people who like similar.

Very nice

[aum-45066 · 10/10 · 23 November 2019]

We enjoyed the movie. I like the story it is new. And is based in real story

Well done

[christinefaressa · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

Thoroughly enjoyed this movie on so many levels. As a mother of a child with autism, it was extremely moving to see the connections that were made.

Simply beautiful!

[irinafiruti · 9/10 · 15 January 2020]

It's long since I haven't seen such a beautiful film: beautiful lanscapes, beautiful story, beautiful love story ( the magnetism of Joaquin Furriel delivers all the emotions behind the scenes and the words) and an open ending that leaves you dreaming.

Arjantin

[yusufpiskin · 8/10 · 24 March 2021]

"Tristan tiene unos lentes maravillosos con los que ve el mundo. Solo él los tiene."

This film has the best representation of autism that I have seen in a fiction film. I truly believed that Tristan was autistic throughout the film. I really liked the film. It has beautiful images of an Argentina coastline and lost of orcas. I just found the ending a little anticlimactic. What happens to Tristan, Beto, and Lola in the end? I know they have some text telling you what happened to the real people this film is based on, but I would have like to see a little bit of that at the end instead of reading it. As it is I had to read the English/Turkish subtitle to watch the film, so only having a text ending was disappointing.

I think I might watch it again without the subtitle so I can better enjoy the imagery.

Beautiful and moving movie

[marybbloom · 8/10 · 21 March 2021]

I liked the movie and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The end was a kind of disappointing if I understand correctly. It ends with the boy playing underwater with the Orca ... does it mean he is dead ?