Mozart and the Whale (2005)

A love story between two savants with Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship.

Director:

Petter Næss

Writer:

Ronald Bass (as Ron Bass)

Stars:

Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, Gary Cole

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Hartnett	...	Donald Morton
Radha Mitchell	...	Isabelle Sorenson
Gary Cole	...	Wallace
Sheila Kelley	...	Janice
Erica Leerhsen	...	Bronwin
John Carroll Lynch	...	Gregory
Nate Mooney	...	Roger
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Gracie
Robert Wisdom	...	Blume
Allen Evangelista	...	Skeets
Kelly B. Eviston	...	Dr. Trask (as Kelly Eviston)
Jhon Goodwin	...	Rodney
Christa Campbell	...	Therapist
Jeffrey Brandle	...	Ten-year-old Kid
Hollis Higgins	...	Homeless Man

Storyline

A dramatic-comedy, inspired by the lives of two people with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, whose emotional dysfunctions threaten to sabotage their budding romance. Donald is a good-natured but hapless taxi driver with a love of birds and a superhuman knack for numbers. Like many people with AS, he likes patterns and routines. But when the beautiful but complicated Isabel joins the autism support group he leads, his life - and his heart - are turned upside down.

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Plot Keywords:

autism | asperger's syndrome | halloween costume | halloween party | love | 

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Taglines:

They don't fit in. Except together.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 2006 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Mozart & the Whale

Filming Locations:

Gonzaga University - 502 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,610, 16 April 2006

Gross USA:

$36,006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$84,447

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big City Pictures, Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG II, Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The project was originally planned for Steven Spielberg, but due to his workload it eventually landed in the hands of critically acclaimed Norwegian director Petter Næss. This became his first US production.

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Goofs

In the first group scene, Donald talks about numbers as he stares at the microwave oven countdown. When the camera cuts away from the digital readout, the one/second beep of the microwave can still be heard but when the camera returns to the readout, fewer seconds elapse than beeps heard.

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Quotes

Isabelle Sorenson: You can't disappoint me, Because whatever you are is exactly what I want.

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Connections

References Crocodile Dundee (1986)

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Soundtracks

Overrated
Written by Ian LeFeuvre
Performed by Ian Lefeuvre, Maury LaFoy and Peter Von Althen
By Arrangement with Zync Music
Courtesy of Time Bomb Recordings

User Reviews

Very good job on capturing spirit of inspiring real aspies....

My opinion is obviously prejudiced as I am "the whale" in the title of this movie. My wife is "Mozart." I appreciate the time the cast and other principals spent with real aspergers and autism adults. It paid off. Both Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell did a terrific job of capturing the spirit of myself and my wife when we met.

Rahda looks much more like Mary did when we met. I was never as tall as Josh but was much slimmer at his age. There are all kinds of whales and while Josh is a nice, sleek Blue Whale by comparison, I have become an Orca in my middle age.

I have high hopes that an eventual theater release will enable this film to do a great service to my community and to anyone who feels different and wants a soulmate!

In order to not unduly influence the tally, I gave it a seven which is the current average rating although I think it merits a higher number.

"The Whale" fka Jerry Newport