Rise to the Light Once, we were kids who genuinely loved Brendan Fraser for his sparkling, charismatic performances in films like "The Mummy" duology, "George of the Jungle", and "Blast from the Past". Some of those movies we rewatched over and over, others less so. Years passed, carefree days faded away, and with them it felt as if the actor himself disappeared from the radar. For nearly two decades, at least for me, Fraser was someone I hardly thought about anymore. So you can imagine my surprise when his name suddenly reappeared across numerous media outlets because of his new role in "The Whale". It was only then that I learned about the many hardships he had faced, both in his personal life and his career. The film’s triumph—seemingly beginning at the Venice Film Festival in September 2022—and the wave of praise that followed made me look closely at its upcoming release. An intriguing premise, an unusual role, and the possibility of an Academy Award nomination made me eagerly anticipate the chance to see it (and Fraser did win the "Oscar" for this performance). And, honestly, all expectations were fully met. Darren Aronofsky is a remarkable director who knows how to create unconventional cinema. Just look at "Requiem for a Dream", "mother!", "Black Swan", or "Noah". With "The Whale", he seems to surpass himself. Every story shown in the film—no matter how much screen time it gets—is fully раскрыта, each of the few characters is carefully developed and superbly performed by the cast. Every camera movement, every line of dialogue, the color palette, and the musical score reflect that distinctive Aronofsky style that has long earned him a devoted audience. But of course, Brendan Fraser himself is the heart of the film. He doesn’t simply play his role—he lives the life of his character. Much of what his hero goes through, the highs and the lows, Fraser has experienced in his own life. I’m convinced that this portrayal feels so authentic precisely because of the actor’s difficult personal journey. A series of career setbacks, family issues, and other struggles led Fraser into depression. Still, I want to believe that this powerful performance in "The Whale" allowed him to overcome those hardships and that his life has now taken a much brighter turn. Fraser is outstanding as Charlie, a severely obese man going through one of the darkest periods of his life. He has lost his partner, his health has deteriorated, and his relationship with his teenage daughter is deeply strained. Charlie works as a teacher, giving online classes, yet he never dares to turn on his camera for his students. Such a life inevitably leaves deep scars, and the viewer can feel the hero’s pain and hopelessness almost physically, in every cell of their body. It is portrayed on screen with striking honesty and power. The supporting characters and the actors who portray them are just as strong. Hong Chau deserves special mention for her excellent performance as the nurse who cares for Charlie and, at the same time, his close friend, someone who genuinely worries about him. Every one of her appearances, her quiet inner pain for Charlie, is handled with great care. At no point does it feel like acting—it feels like real human relationships. It’s a pity that her Academy Award nomination did not result in a win, while Jamie Lee Curtis took the prize for what I personally consider a rather questionable role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once". Sadie Sink, best known from "Stranger Things", is also very good. The red-haired actress plays Charlie’s daughter. Although she doesn’t have many scenes, the audience can clearly follow her character’s evolution. Because of her teenage age and her troubled past with Charlie, she initially refuses to understand or accept her father. Over time, however, she learns to do so, learning to see life differently through the events of the film. "The Whale" is deeply unsettling in the best possible way. It stays somewhere deep in your soul, lingering long after the credits roll, memorable for its uniqueness and for the emotional colors it leaves behind. It is a worthy story that teaches us how to love and be loved, how to forgive ourselves, respect ourselves and others, and believe that every person has the right to exist and to be accepted for who they are—most importantly, to accept themselves. Reconciliation with everyone around us, and first and foremost with ourselves, allows the hero to rise above everything that has happened, to quite literally ascend toward the light, leaving the past behind and becoming something new. 8 out of 10