The Whales of August is one of the most cordial and sweet films I've ever watched.
Simply put it's a nice kind-hearted drama between two elderly sisters living out their last days together on a small secluded Island on a family plot of land.
The film stars Betty Davis and Lillian Gish. The two main sisters who have an absolutely phenomenal chemistry.
The reactions to each other is generally heartwarming and very comedic. As they talked and bicker to each other about every minuet thing they want to do or about the many many things they've already done throughout their lives.
I want to give extra credit to Lewis gas given that she was around 95 years of age when she performed this role. And did just such a good job of it.
The story seems to be if Betty Davis's character is willing to continue to take care of her older sister. For she's not only starting to go slightly dimensions with old age, but it's becoming incredibly bitter.
And it becomes more conversation of; 'Can these two to keep a good relationship with each other.' Which is ultimately turns out they can. As Lillian Gish character tries to be a little bit more upbeat and kind.
Overall it's a very relaxing watch, that has just enough internal drama to keep you engaged without ever pushing the boundaries into physical problems.
The closest we get to an actual conflict is when this one woman brings a Realtor into the house, thinking that he's going to make a sale. And that's the closest we get to Betty Davis's character getting legitimately upset.
The only part of this you could argue was a bit silly are the mannerisms of everybody. It's played up a little bit more sophisticated than how people would interact.
But then you could make the excuse that everybody's on their summer Island home trying to make appearances and act as cordial and is humanly possible.
Oh there's just a possibility that these people love decided to stick to a very pacific way of interacting with the world.
After all every actor in this film was born in the time of Atlantic accents and purposely putting on a flair for the dramatic for making your performance work. Either way it makes the film all that much more enjoyable.
It's a great send-off to Lillian Gish after having 80 years of acting in the Cinema she gets to finish it off with what I consider to be just a lovely film.
And Betty Davis gets to play the most kind-hearted woman you've ever seen. Made all the more enjoyable when she has a slightly romantic dinner with Vincent Price. Who's equally amusing.
That's all I can only describe about the movie. It's just one of those films you have to sit there and watch to understand it. Like listening to an old couple reminisce about any old thing in a restaurant.
You can't really retell there stories you just heard. You just kind of get what they're talking about.
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