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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1989
Runtime1h 40m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes17
DirectorClive Rees
WritersMichael Morpurgo
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.4 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsWhen the Whales Came
About When the Whales Came
A pair of children befriend an eccentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the whales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.
Directed by Clive Rees, When the Whales Came leans on a strong ensemble — Paul Scofield, David Threlfall, Helen Mirren — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1989.
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