Brendan Fraser said ‘The Whale‘ presented the biggest challenge of his career. Speaking at the press conference at the Venice Film Festival, Brendan says “Charlie is the most heroic man I have ever played. His superpower is to seek the good in others and bring that out in him. In that process, he’s on his journey of salvation.”
Fraser added, “I needed to learn to absolutely move in a new way. I developed muscles I did not know that I had. I even felt a sense of vertigo at the end of the day when all the appliances were removed. Just as you would feel stepping off of the boat and onto the dock here at Venice.”
In a town in Idaho, Charlie, a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher, hides out in his flat and eats his way to death. He is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter for a last chance at redemption.
The Whale is directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his 2012 play of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton.
The Whale is now available on VOD.