FREE WILLY
US, 1993, 112 minutes, Colour.
Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Jayne Atkinson, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen, Michael Ironside, Mykelti Williamson.
Directed by Simon Wincer.
Free Willy proved a very popular family film in the early 1990s. It was so popular that there were two sequels.
The film made a transition for the popularity of whales – one thinks of Moby Dick of the past as well as such thrillers as Orca, the Killer Whale. After the dolphins, Willy made whales popular.
The film makes the point about animals in captivity as well as whales and dolphins, in Sea Worlds having to perform tricks. (Many commentators made the point that the whales had to perform tricks for the film itself.) However, its heart is in the right place as Willy is led to freedom and the open sea.
The film was directed by Australian Simon Wincer who made a number of films in Australia including Harlequin and The Light Horsemen. In his American career, he made a number of films for Disney including The Girl Who Spelt Freedom and Operation Dumbo Drop. He also directed a number of the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
1.An entertaining film for family audiences? Reinstating whales as popular subject for films? A boy and his whale?
2.The American northwest states, the coast, the sea? The beauty of the locations? The seasons? The scenes on fishing boats? The Sea World? The action sequences? The musical score? The song, ‘Will You Be There’, by Michael Jackson?
3.The title, the indication of themes? The background of Jesse as a young boy, assigned to a foster family? His finding his own freedom – or not?
4.The capture of Willy, the fishing boat? The amusement park? The Sea World? The trainer, the manager, Dial, and the training of Willy for tricks? His failure to perform on the first day? The reaction of Jesse? The need for Willy to escape and go back to the sea?
5.The story of Jesse, homeless, in the city, his friendship with Perry, going to the amusement park, pursued by the police? Perry and his spray-painting the tank? His getting away, Jesse being caught, his being assigned to a foster couple, Glenn and Annie? His work, community service, cleaning up the tank? His seeing the whale, getting to know him, calling him by his name? Willy and his response to Jesse? The training, Ray and Randolph? Randolph as a native American? The closeness to Willy, the effect on Jesse, his trusting Willy, learning to trust adults, trusting Glenn? His reaction to Glenn – and his detached attitude towards him?
6.Dial, the villain of the piece? His interest in moneymaking? His plan to have Willy killed, insurance money? His reaction to the first show, Willy not performing? Jesse and his being upset?
7.Jesse, the scenes at home, with Glenn and with Annie? Their fondness for him? Glenn and his distance? Jesse going to run away? going to Willy? His seeing Dial, the men, the sabotaging of the tank?
8.His friendship with Randolph and Ray, his getting them to help him, the discussions about Willy and the sea, the decision to lead him back into the ocean? His wanting to rejoin his family? The preparations, the details of the escape, the accident on the road? Glenn and Annie, their helping out? The hurry to the marina, the time factor in getting Willy into the water, the danger of dehydration, success?
9.Willy as free, going into the ocean? The themes of the environment? Care of animals? An optimistic film and a message film for the family?
