The Mad Whale (2017)

The Mad Whale: Directed by Sonia A. Guggenheim, David Breschel, Jenna Cavelle, Luke Haskard, Ariel Heller, Adam Linzey, Matt McClung, Andrew Wood, Uttera Singh. With Camilla Belle, Dominic Rains, Summer Phoenix, Nicole Starrett. Inmates at a women’s mental asylum stage a theatrical production of Herman Melville’s ‘Moby Dick.’

“Shot in 2017, this film never received a theatrical release… only to be seen by the public on Blu-ray in 2019. It is a shame it didnu0026#39;t get a bigger audience, because this experimental film, which had nine directors and eight writers, is a real triumph. Set in a late-1800u0026#39;s asylum, the female patients are tasked with putting on a production of u0026quot;Moby Dicku0026quot; as a means of therapy. Camilla Belle delivers one of the best performances of the year as Isabel, an unjustly committed inmate cast in the lead role of Ishmael. James Franco also performs nicely in a very small role. This is a perfect example of a hidden gem.”