In 1819, a young cabin boy named Tom Nickerson joins the whaler "The Essex" on its journey from Nantucket. Tom, inspired by his grandfather's tales, is initially thrilled to be at sea, but his illusions are quickly shattered by a storm and food shortage. The crew's morale is briefly lifted when they catch a whale, but disaster strikes when another whale attacks and sinks the ship. The survivors take to the long-boats, and a grueling 2,000-mile journey to Peru ensues. Only five crew members are eventually rescued, with the others either dead or never found.
The Whale
In the heart-wrenching drama, a whaling vessel faces catastrophic destruction, leaving its crew to fight for their lives against the unforgiving forces of nature.