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Fathom

  • 2021
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
726
YOUR RATING
Fathom (2021)
On June 25, a conversation begins. Watch as Dr. Michelle Fournet and Dr. Ellen Garland journey to opposite hemispheres on an undertaking as colossal as their humpback whale subjects, deciphering the complex communication of whales to uncover a culture in the oceans older than humankind.
Play trailer2:28
2 Videos
7 Photos
Documentary

Fathom is a visual and aural wonder of a documentary that follows researchers working to finally decode the communication of humpback whales. With Dr. Michelle Fournet, Dr. Ellen Garland.Fathom is a visual and aural wonder of a documentary that follows researchers working to finally decode the communication of humpback whales. With Dr. Michelle Fournet, Dr. Ellen Garland.Fathom is a visual and aural wonder of a documentary that follows researchers working to finally decode the communication of humpback whales. With Dr. Michelle Fournet, Dr. Ellen Garland.

  • Director
    • Drew Xanthopoulos
  • Stars
    • Michelle Fournet
    • Ellen Garland
    • Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    726
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Drew Xanthopoulos
    • Stars
      • Michelle Fournet
      • Ellen Garland
      • Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
    • 31User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:28
    Official Trailer
    Fathom
    Trailer 2:37
    Fathom
    Fathom
    Trailer 2:37
    Fathom

    Photos6

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    Top cast3

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    Michelle Fournet
    • Self
    Ellen Garland
    • Self
    Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
    Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
    • Self
    • Director
      • Drew Xanthopoulos
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews31

    5.6726
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    Featured reviews

    4wnbgxxz

    Almost misses the point...

    Described as a visual and aural wonder is partly to the point. The aquatic sequences of whales are powerful, as are the sound captures of their song. But... for a documentary that is aimed to concentrate on this important subject it is at times irritating to say the least to listen to the scientists describing their work. American accents are fine, except when they are delivered in what seems to be the fashionable way of speaking, in a voice that sounds like laryngitis, especially when accompanied by totally unnecessary music that renders the words being spoken unintelligible. Poor whales... they deserve better than this!
    3brucejsantos-39894

    Movie is a Waste of Funding and Time

    This movie has likely tanked a certain researcher's possibility of getting funding in the future. Changing research plans ad-hoc, inability to keep up on recording data, lack of time-knowledge over inputs (playing whale recordings in the ocean... "I think that's ours"?!?!), and questionable data points to begin with... Why would any agency pay for 'that'? Demonstrably amateurs.

    And then there is the movie's director. Barely enough run time to qualify as a 'movie', and stacked with time-wasting scenes that arguably have nothing to do with what the viewer was expecting to see. Given camera technology, anyone can shoot great scenery in Alaska, or people goofing off on a tree swing. An evidentially poor effort; Apple producers are equally to blame. 3 stars is generous.
    1prolead

    What a waste of time

    How do you take an absolutely fantastic research topic and beat your audience to death? This documentary does that very well. Most of the documentary is just painfully slow and focuses on the process rather than anything worth watching. There are shots of them fixing boat engines and making food and endless chatting about their personal lives. It's like the animals take a back seat in this documentary. Painfully slow to watch.
    3danielbooroff

    Was sooo excited and then...

    If you like beautiful cinematography then this may be for you.

    It is extremely naval-gazing and focuses on the personal lives of the scientists rather then the whales and/or facts.

    There are no conclusions on the questions asked at the beginning of the film.

    A missed opportunity.
    9JoshuaMercott

    Eye opening

    And ear-opening as well. Brilliant 'first step' into a deeper more 'associative' understanding of other life on Earth, starting with Whales. The scientific attention shown to every scene is brilliant.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 25, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fathom: Descifrando las profundidades
    • Production companies
      • Back Allie Productions
      • Hidden Candy
      • Impact Partners
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1 hour, 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2:1

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