FLIPPING THE WHALE

If you're a fan of movies that have a definite beginning, middle and end, chances are you won't like Flipping the Whale. This isn't to say that is a bad thing. Quite the opposite actually. Sean Guinan's 90-minute debut feature, shot in digital black-and-white video, is a tale of five time-traveling whalers who go from the 1920s to present day in search of utopia. But this isn't straight-forward storytelling here. The scenes jump back and forth, actors burst into musical numbers and there is no set time or setting. This is the subconcious at work. And that is exactly what makes it a film worth seeing. Too often filmmakers dumb down their work to pander to the lowest common denominator. Most films I walk away from feeling dumber for having seen them. This is an exception. The freedoms the film takes allows the viewer to interpret things in their own way. The actors (led by Sean Guinan himself) do a perfect job at bringing their characters to life, yet they all leave unanswered questions for us to keep asking. The music that accompanies the film (also primarily written by Guinan) is just as sporadic; sometimes mimicing gospels and, other times, rock'n'roll. But the music sets the scene for a lot of the film and is just as important to the production as the actors. It is impressive that Sean had such control over this film. Whether or not you think this is your type of film, check it out. Because there is so much left to the imagination, you can fill in the gaps with your thoughts. This makes you, the viewer, just as involved as a cast member.
VISIT SEAN GUINAN AND HIS WORK HERE.