It has been a long 'Whale', since I watched a last Darren arnofasky movie. The movie being adapted by a Play by the same name written by Samuel D.Hunter, there is only one setting in the entire movie but the detailing set me in 'vessel Pequod' (captain Ahab's ship) and that was captained by Brenden Fraser.
On a holistic point of view the whale seemed merely a homage to Herman Melville's "Mobby Dick". Charlie ( Brenden Fraser) an English teacher has been living an obesied life for a long time and lately started to encounter the trepidation of his last days. Only a week of time having in hand, he tries to settle some good things to his only daughter. At the eleventh hour of his life, Charlie recognises the good and evil of god's plan in an euphemistic way. The characterization of Charlie as an English teacher was more convenient to sense his emotions through suitable references of literature shown in this movie. On talking about the symbols, they are specifically laid upon the characters themselves and interestingly they keep evolving for each and every scene of the movie. On its subject matter wise, the whale is really an ocean as its themes and symbols are so blue and unfathomable. The background music has also played a bigger part in the whale to thrill me as same as other Arnofasky's movies. There is an existential touch at the end which blends with magical realism to feel our feet on air, so to Charlie. Despite of minimum characters and single setting, the movie set me in an hour glass to prove this is 'a film by Darren Arnofasky'.