It's probably safe to say most everyone knows the story of "Moby Dick," about the crazy captain chasing after a white whale. You may not know this story is based on the true account of what actually happened to the whaling ship, Essex. The movie, "In the Heart of the Sea" is not about the white whale--that has been told well many times--it is rather the story of the crew and what happened to them. But, it's also an impressive story of desperate forgiveness. Ignore the movie hype, because they only show the white whale attacking and all the expected excitement. This movie is much deeper than that.
First of all, the framing of the movie takes place long years after the events. The cabin boy is now a man past his prime, drinking himself to death due to the specters haunting his memory. Herman Melville (the author of "Moby Dick") shows up at the man's house and pays the man for his story. The man's wife helps get it started, and then we are into the story. There is palpable heartache as the man talks of the voyage: preparations, leaving for sea, the trials on board, squabbles, and squalls. Life at sea wasn't pleasant, and this movie does a good job of showing just enough to make it sink in and then turning away.
Yes, there is whale hunting, and it is brutally quick. But, you'll feel it. There's no judgment made, either for or against, and that's clearly intentional. Because, the men go through just as brutal a set of circumstances later on. Again, there's no judgment made about what the sailors do to survive once their ship, the Essex, is sunk. They are starving, emaciated, skeletons by the time it's all over. The man telling the story breaks down a number of times. I don't dare spoil the incredible cathartic moment at the close, though I will say that Herman Melville didn't use the whole story of the Essex for "Moby Dick;" just the part about the whale.
This is one of the best movies I've seen for a very long time.
- M
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