SHORTS PROGRAM 4: ANIMATED WORLDS
Hammer Theatre Center
Fri, Mar 13 2:35 PM
Animation without limits. From hand-drawn experiments to breathtaking visual journeys, these shorts showcase the boundless imagination and emotional depth animation can achieve.
SHORTS PROGRAM 4: ANIMATED WORLDS
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema #1
Mon, Mar 16 9:50 PM
Animation without limits. From hand-drawn experiments to breathtaking visual journeys, these shorts showcase the boundless imagination and emotional depth animation can achieve.
A gay man, silently grieving the loss of his longtime partner, volunteers at a school where he's assigned to mentor a lonely young boy who hasn't spoken a word all year. A magical pen and journal enable them to communicate until they discover that some of the deepest conversations only require a single spoken word, the courage to say it, and a listening heart to hear it.
The title, Whale 52, is inspired by maritime folklore about a whale that's been labelled the loneliest whale on the planet because he can only emit sounds at a frequency of 52 Hertz, a frequency no other whale can hear. The legend of Whale 52 is the springboard for an evocative story that explores themes of emotional isolation, the need for connection, and coming-of-age at any age.
The one - and only - word the young boy speaks is the film's big reveal, prompting Sir Ian McKellen to write, "Whale 52 is a thrillingly original creation...its final revelation took my breath away."