WHEN THE WHALES CAME

UK, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Paul Scofield, Helen Mirren, David Suchet.
Directed by Clive Rees.

When the Whales Came is based on a book by Michael Morpurgo, Why the Wales Came. He has written the screenplay.

The film is one of those British re-creations of a period, beautifully photographed on location, with an expert cast who understate the drama involved. The film is set on one of the Scilly Islands, Bryher, on the eve of World War One. The film shows the landscapes and seascapes, the way of life of the small group living on the island, their relationship with the sea. It also shows the coming of World War One and its repercussions for this past world. There is an evocative score by Christopher Gunning.

The glimpse of the past - and an allegory for the later 20th century and its focus on values and conservation.

1.A period piece? British film-making? An isolated community? World War One?

2.The atmosphere of 1914, the landscapes and seascapes of the Scilly Islands, of Bryher? The lifestyle of the village? The coming of the whales? The evocative score?

3.The society of the island, adults and children, growing up and traditions? The coming of the war, prejudices? The superstitions and religion, conservation and ecology?

4.The importance of traditions, the story of the island of Samson? Superstitions and curses? The relevance of the title?

5.Paul Scofield as the birdman: his story of his childhood, his mother and himself leaving the island of Samson? The curse, the drying up of the water, the families leaving? His character, age, living alone, the mystery man? Carving the beautiful birds? Communication with Daniel and Gracie by the shells? His gifts? Their meeting him in his house, his friendliness, the revelation that he was deaf? Sharing with them, giving the food? Bigotry against him? The coming of the whales, his care for them, the telling of the story? The people believing him? The burning of his house? His being unburdened and the curse lifted from Bryher?

6.Daniel and Gracie, their age, friendship, playing together? Daniel and his carving? At school, the differences in their families? Daniel in trouble? The messages with the birdman? Talking to him, the carving? The food for Gracie's family? Daniel's Christmas gift of his own carving? Their wanting to protect the birdman?

7.The young boy and girl, their families, hard, loving? The effect on each? Daniel and his father, verbal abuse, punishment, severity, his mother supporting him, his brothers? Carving? School, the news of the war, the meeting with the birdman, telling him about the war? Gracie and the need for food, their going out to fish? The tide taking them to Samson? Seeing the island and the absence of water? Their coming back and the reaction of the islanders? The concern about the whale, Daniel and his plea to the villagers? Gracie, little, playing, at school, love for her mother and father, hiding the bird in the attic, the effect of the war, the food, her sense of loss of her father? Believing in the ghosts on Samson, going with Daniel? The happy ending?

8.Clemmie and Jack, an ordinary couple, genial, their life on the island, the concealing of the wood from the inspector, the atmosphere of the war, Jack's deciding to go, drinking with Will and the others? His letters? The funeral service? The joy of his return? Clemmie, her love for her husband, care for Gracie, the past attention of Treve? The funeral, the war effort, coping, the final joy?

9.Treve and his severity, moods, favouring Tim, the baptism of Albert, harshness towards Daniel? His drinking, hostility, relationship with his wife? Daniel in the shed? The attack at the time of the coming of the whales? Helping to free them, the change in attitude?

10.The boys on the island, Tim, their work, hard life, bigotry towards the birdman, the burning of his house?

11.Will as the leader, the traditions, the stories, the hiding of the timber, the official and his search? The farewell to Jack? The decision about the whales?

12.The islanders and the detail of their way of life, homes, goods, fishing, religion and services?

13.The teacher, his name, well-beloved? Strictness, lessons, with the children, the war, the attack on the Huns, singing `God Save the Queen'? His assistant and her helping? The holidays?

14.The whales and their being beached, the efforts of the islanders with the fire to turn them back to the sea? Harmony with nature, lifting of the curse? The story of the greed of the islanders of Samson and the consequences?

15.19th century to 20th century, changes, way of life and traditions, a new world? A fable about ecology?