Darren Aronofsky’s BAFTA and Oscar-nominated psychological drama The Whale stars Brendan Fraser and is based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter. The film journeys with Charlie, a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity, who tries to reconcile with his estranged daughter for one last chance at redemption. The award-winning drama opens in South Africa on 10 February, 2023.

Nominated for 3 Oscars for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Make Up and Hairstyling, The Whale is an eye-opening and heartbreaking character study of a man wrestling with regret, fatherhood and unspoken love that has haunted him for decades. A tale of transformation and transcendence, Charlie struggles through the depths of grief toward salvation.

Brendan Fraser delivers the “performance of a lifetime” (Time Out), the humanity of which “will floor you” (The Hollywood Reporter) and “a performance for the ages” (BBC). Brendan Fraser earns his first nomination at the Academy Awards, flanked by fantastic performances from Sadie Sink and Hong Chau. While Fraser is best known for his comic performances in The Mummmy, Blast from the Past, California Man and George of the Jungle, the actor has also racked up a number of fine dramatic performances over his decades-spanning career, including: Crash, The Quiet American, Gods and Monsters, Extraordinary Measures and No Sudden Move.

Darren Aronofsky has become one of the most exciting directors of our time with a slew of critically-acclaimed films in Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler and Black Swan. While some of his films such as The Fountain, Noah and Mother! have led to more divisive responses from audiences and critics, one thing’s for sure… Aronofsky’s never dull.

Together, Brendan Fraser and Darren Aronofsky present an odd pairing but one that makes complete sense against the backdrop of playwright Samuel D. Hunter’s deeply human and emotive story of redemption. Coming from the A24 stable, as expected The Whale is an intimate yet beautifully photographed drama, capturing the essence of this deeply affecting character portrait.