“Do you ever get the feeling that people are incapable of caring?” Brendan Fraser’s Charlie asks in the enthralling trailer for Darren Aronofsky-directed psychological drama The Whale. Aronofsky’s new film stars the renaissance man of the acting world, Fraser, as the estranged father of Stranger Things and Wonderland Summer 2022 cover star Sadie Sink’s 17-year-old character Ellie. The film serves as an interrogation on humanity and compassion, documenting Charlie’s journey to reconnect with his daughter.
After growing apart from her when he left his young family for a man, who subsequently passed away, the all-consuming grief Charlie experiences at his loss, sees him spiral into obesity, leaving him with significant health issues requiring regular care, provided by nurse and best friend Liz (Hong Chau).
The first trailer doesn’t reveal too much regarding the plotline’s intricacies, instead conveying primarily the seismic poignancy the feature would appear to have at its heart. Marking Sink’s second film release in many months, following the recent Dear Zoe, and the latest release from The Mummy star Brendan Fraser, we’re already clambering to see this genius pairing together on the big screen.
The second trailer is less oneiric than the first, offering up searingly poignant lines of dialogue, and glimpses into the emotional landscapes the film traverses. We’re treated to more of an insight into Charlie’s relationship with Liz — extremely intimate, yet playful all the same. Ellie, much like a typical teen, seems more resistant to the vulnerability her father Charlie is trying to forge; but his unconditional love for her is at the core of the trailer. “I need to know that I’ve done one thing right with my life” Charlie desperately pleas at the end of the teaser, and the tone is set for an utterly heartbreaking piece of art. As the film’s February release date inches closer, we’re eagerly awaiting what else is to come.
Head below to watch the two trailers for The Whale…