The movie starts with an interview of the last survivor of the Essex – a whaling ship sunk in 1820 by a giant whale. Tom Nickerson, at that time, only 14, and the ship’s cabin boy reluctantly tells the story. And the story goes thus:
After losing the captaincy of the ship to the rich and connected George Pollard, able seaman Owen Chase reluctantly leaves his pregnant wife behind to be first mate on the Essex. But because of the bad blood between them, they are not friends, which does not escape Nickerson, who notices the tension.
The new, but inexperienced captain Pollard steers the ship into a storm despite Owen’s warnings. After taking only one whale and landing in South America to take on supplies, the crew hears of a great hunting ground far, far out in the unmapped ocean, but Spanish sailors warn of a gigantic white whale that can sink a ship.
Looking for whales, the Essex ventures way too far away from civilization. Truly, they find lots of whales but then, their protector – a really huge white whale – wouldn’t give them a chance, and rams the ship, caving it in until it sinks. The crew then had to abandon ship in three tiny lifeboats.
As their food rations run out and the men float further away from any land, they start to starve. Owen’s buddy and second mate is injured as the white whale follows the crew and continues to attack. The men become mere skeletons as the days wear on. As men die, the surviving crew has to result to cannibalism (though none of this is shown). Land is finally found, but the only thing to eat there are bird eggs. A few men, including the injured second mate, stay behind as the rest head to sea again.
The remaining men make it home but nobody really believes their story. Will they have to lie to an investigating committee? Or tell the amazing true tale of the giant whale and what they had to resort to to stay alive?
You must watch the movie to find out!
