When the Whales Came is a low key adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book. It is set in the Scilly islands in 1914, just at the outbreak of World War One.
Gracie and Daniel are two children living in this impoverished island fishing community. The local school is stern, Daniel's father is sterner.
Gracie faces tragedy as her father went off to fight in the war and was reported to be killed.
Both children befriend Birdman (Paul Scofield.) This deaf old man lives an isolated life, doing wood carvings.
When Birdman finds a beached whale, he wants to push it back out to the sea. The islanders wants the whale for the money it will bring them.
The Birdman tells a story of what happened when the last time the whales were beached up in Samson. He was a little boy then and greed bought tragedy with it.
With eerie, haunting music, this is charming simple tale with an ecological subtext. It is a bit slow to get going.
It portrays life in this gloomy harsh small island environment. Even in 1914, Gracie's father is fearful what life is going to be like for his child when she grows up.
Gracie and Daniel are two children living in this impoverished island fishing community. The local school is stern, Daniel's father is sterner.
Gracie faces tragedy as her father went off to fight in the war and was reported to be killed.
Both children befriend Birdman (Paul Scofield.) This deaf old man lives an isolated life, doing wood carvings.
When Birdman finds a beached whale, he wants to push it back out to the sea. The islanders wants the whale for the money it will bring them.
The Birdman tells a story of what happened when the last time the whales were beached up in Samson. He was a little boy then and greed bought tragedy with it.
With eerie, haunting music, this is charming simple tale with an ecological subtext. It is a bit slow to get going.
It portrays life in this gloomy harsh small island environment. Even in 1914, Gracie's father is fearful what life is going to be like for his child when she grows up.