MovieChat Forums > The Whale (2022) Discussion > It's not about obesity, but the doubt an...

It's not about obesity, but the doubt and self-hate gays feel when told by society that they're an abomination.


Charlie never thought he was a blight on society because of his sexual orientation, but after being told that for so long, he began to question his own goodness. The movie was about him in his last days searching for any reason, through his daughter, why the world's view of him might be wrong. When he dies at the end, it's suggested that he went to heaven, meaning God doesn't share the view that many in the world do towards gays. It's a very affirming, pro-tolerance/acceptance message.

The obesity is a metaphor for the ugliness and revulsion that homophobic people see/feel when they look at gays. The use of obesity in this way is problematic though, because the movie leverages fat-phobia to push gay-acceptance.

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So if you tell someone they're an abomination they become an abomination? Nice cop out. People have no determination or will power? Anyone that susceptible to the words of strangers is clearly unhinged, so maybe the ones calling gays an abomination are just RIGHT and you're making excuses for them.

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They are.

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Intolerant people really are unpleasant to be around.

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So are homos.

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Naahh - too complicated. When the film opens, this guy is done. He doesn't care anymore. He's ready to die. Knowing this, and having it confirmed by his nurse (friend) - he's out for his last hurrah. The last hurrah for him being that he really wants to know his daughter. He feels he may be able to have some positive influence on her before he packs it in.

The fact that he was gay - I didn't think that had all that much to do with why he was the way he was. He lost the love of his life, and then lost interest in trying anymore. A byproduct of giving up, plus probably an eating disorder, makes him for all intents and purposes "The Whale" when we find him. At this point, he hates himself because he finds himself disgusting.

Just my take......

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Calm down grandpa, it's not the 1980s anymore. No one is hating on you unless you live right in the heart of Alabama or wherever. I know, you probably live in Beverly Hills and still think you face discrimination daily in 2023...

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