User reviews

WHALE takes place in a suburb about 15 minutes from my house. The typical cul-de-sac, planned community where kids are learning DARE, and going to ready made shopping centers to eat, then shop at Target.

What the film is, however is nothing at all cookie cutter. Its raw, funny, unrefined, a mess. But one thing I can attest to, is the emotional honesty in this thing. It rings true, and then the film becomes crystal clear, where in the first half hour, your not sure what to make of it.

This film deals with some grown up kids whom seem stuck in the past, or unable to move forward. It centers on a character named Cameron, who might have had a shot at being a somebody (a writer) in the past. This point is not clear, like much of the film's backstory. Instead, the film focuses on the now, leaving the past as ambiguous as the on and off again voice overs.

But, these voice overs, along with the sloppy but beautiful imagery, create a poetic film with lots to say, with hardly anything being said.

I related very well to this film, and growing up in a community where I always felt I didn't fully belong makes me realize that alternative visions exist, but they are hard to find.

I rate this film an 8 out of 10 for excellent acting, creativity and imagination. But it is far from perfect.

Let me start this review by stating that I scaled the rating under the consideration that this is a very small indie film. Even smaller in scale then most indies I've seen as thats what I'm mostly interested in. I also believe that I fall into exactly the target audience, age wise and life circumstance. And while I gave it 10 stars (not the most technically advanced film-making) and was deeply moved, i know without a doubt, that this film is not for everybody. Also, this is probably the hardest film I can possibly review. Nothing is conventional in it to write about. It just does its own thing.

OK, with that out of the way, the film is about a Persian American character named Cameron (Amir Motlagh). Cameron seems to have had some relationship and life issues (unpublished writer) thats caused him to drive back home to his parents house. He is aimless, but something is definitely stirring in him. Although the plot is mostly understated and minimal, we learn more about Cameron through a series of scenes, still images, and some voice overs throughout the film. His inner life is a bit different then his actions. These are the interesting elements of the film that really draw you in after awhile.

The film is supported with a great collection of characters, including Cameron's friend Darren (Darren Oneil), whom I assume is not really an actor since I couldn't find any other credits. His character is also aimless, but in different ways, and is very likable, and in some weird inverted way, a type of comic relief. Also, an ex girlfriend (Kindy Barr), Mike (Micheal Flowers) and Motlagh's parents, which all provide honest and believable performances. Somehow, the film is very funny, while retaining a serious quality.

Cameron goes on a soul searching quest. Thats about the only way I can sum it up, without giving away the film. Basically, its composed of a few scenes, and like I said, you fall into a sort of trance, and 20 minutes in, you realize that maybe a mirror is being placed into your own life. Of course, my circumstances are similar, so I could relate to that world.

I highly recommend this to the more adventurous and open minded cinephile, from a director that I hadn't heard of till now, and whom I will definitely seek out in the future.

Whale explores the pressured existence of soul searching artist, Cameron, played by director Amir Motlagh, who returns home and stumbles upon what's been missing - the nostalgic comfort of once familiar things. In going back, Cameron triggers his creative voice but it's not a battle easily won. His poetic inner dialogue and conversations with friends remind us of the burden of his dream, and with it, the fear of failing and disappointing those who matter most. Where some films force us to look deeper inside ourselves by birthing a story inside a story, or a play within a play, Whale's ambiguous blur and blend of fiction and documentary create a universe in which were brought uncomfortably close to our own reflection. When Cameron's best friend, Darren, is caught off guard by a train that roars into frame and drowns his words, he breaks character, smirks, and screams his line in competition with the train's engine, "I don't want a 9-5!!!!". Through Motlagh's choice to keep a moment in which the production of art is spontaneously forced to compete with the unpredictable force of life, he reminds us that art and life don't exist without the other. Motlagh cradles Whale along this delicate edge while pushing Cameron feet first into his past and present and the thoughts between. In the end, Whale is a raw film that embraces the honesty of a moment and believes so much in itself that it leaves you inspired and touched. I highly recommend this film, especially to struggling artists who aren't looking for a hand to hold, but for the reminder that life and its moments are the greatest driving force of art, and happiness.

I have never written a review for a film. Maybe because no film has ever touched my soul the way this film has.

It's a film made in the most simple way but it's rich in content and brings up waves of emotions.

It is a film that doesn't spell things out. It just makes you understand each character and each situation because the producer makes it so easy and simple to feel every word, scene, song, as if you had been part of his mind when he wrote it.

The way that the film was shot and it starts out captivates your attention and slowly you start feeling like you know them all from long long ago and that you are in fact in every scene with Cameron and his friends. You start feeling like Cameron's parents are your parents and his friends are your friends and their pain are your pain and their laughs are your laughs....

I can only tell you how easy is to feel all these emotions through watching the film. The film makes it seem so easy and so effortless to break that wall you build through time by hiding your feelings but by watching this film.. My wall was broken into pieces and I was let in to a world where we all live in but so desperately try to hide.

The writer and producer(s) have brought the dark side of my heart into light in an effortless manner and that is art!