In The Whaler Boy, 15-year-old Leshka (Vladimir Onokhov) lives in an isolated village on the Bering Strait. Like most men where he lives, he is a whale hunter. When internet arrives in the village, Leshka becomes infatuated with a webcam model from America – so far away and yet almost close enough to see across the waters of the Strait. Coming of age in the male-dominated whaling community, Leshka’s encounter with this mysterious woman awakens in him a desire to find love outside of the confines of his tiny world. He becomes determined to meet her in real life, setting forth on a dangerous adventure across the raging waters of the sea.
Featuring stunning photography of the dramatic landscape and punctuated by off-kilter humor, Screen Daily says “there’s an almost fable-like simplicity to this atmospheric coming of age story” which captured the Venice Days Director’s Award at the 2020 Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Star Director’s Award at El Gouna and Best New Film at the 2021 Beijing Film Festival.
BONUS FEATURE
- Bonus Short Film — Before the Typhoon Comes (Director Chen Yun | China | Chinese with English subtitles | 15 minutes) — As a young man goes for a swim in the ocean before an encroaching storm, he recalls bittersweet memories of his childhood and now aging father.
And we’re giving away three copies!
To enter, send an email with the subject header “THE WHALER BOY” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:
What is your favorite coming-of-age film?
Please include your name, and address (U.S. only. You must be 18 years old).
Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on March 13th, 2022
