The Whale

The Whale depicts gluttony in a way that is more tragic than I have ever seen it depicted in media. Our society contains an unspoken willful blindness towards obesity. Everyone can see the statistics and see it whenever they walk through the streets, many people suffer from obesity. Charlie represents an extreme case of said obesity, who propelled by an extreme sadness in his life, was moved from being an overweight or mildly obese person to falling into extreme obesity. Modern society often pushes body positive, which is largely a good thing. However, acting like obesity doesn't cause some level of issue is just wrong. There is, of course, the negative impact on your health, but everyone is aware of that. This movie paints a picture of not only the harm obesity can have on your health, but also the strain it puts on your relationships. We learn that Charlie has pushed away nearly everyone in his life because he is so disgusted by what he has become, but can't bring himself to stop, considering himself a lost cause. He thinks that the money it would cost to prolong his life would be better spent on his estranged child's future. He also undoubtedly feels the immense shame that society's watchful eyes project on to obese people. The character Thomas seems to clearly represent society, thinking that obese people simply need or want to be saved. In the beginning of the movie when asked whether he thinks Charlie is disgusting he responds no, not wanting to hurt Charlie's feelings. Later on, when confronted, he reveals his true feelings of disgust towards Charlie. This simulates society on a small scale, showing how the general population acts towards obesity versus how they truly feel. The pizza man and the class of students also represent this in there respective scenes. I think this movie also attempts to trick viewers into feeling some level of contempt, disgust, or a sense of pity towards Charlie. I don't think any viewers have walked away without feeling two or three of those emotions. The scene during the climax of the film where Charlie drowns himself in food perfectly encapsulates the way this film makes viewers understand Charlie as a character. I think a great many people will feel very confused by what exactly this story wants you to feel, however I think the point of this story is clear. To point out that our society is one that not only allows, but enables obesity. I don't consider myself fatphobic in anyway, but this movie has recontextualized the way the I view obesity. I think I likely would have previously fallen into the camp of people that feel somewhere between contempt and pity for the obese, however now I think I better understand what can lead a person down that path, and how difficult it can be to change. Overall this movie is a masterclass in dissecting gluttony, society's feelings towards obesity, and what it means to be honest.