Main Cast: Maury Chaykin, Cyndy Preston, Jennifer Dale, Kenneth Welsh, Paul Gross
Release Year: 1994
Country: US/CA
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
A Canadian production shot along the British Columbia coast, this is the story of a washed-up rock star who finds redemption. It was adapted for the screen by Paul Quarrington from his own award-winning novel. Desmond Howl (Maury Chaykin) is a faded music superstar who now lives a hermit's life in an out-of-the-way oceanside mansion. Living off residuals from previous hits, Howl spends all his time and energy in his state-of-the-art home recording studio trying to compose whale music. He hopes to write a symphonic piece, using the whales' own sounds, that will have the power to summon the marine mammals from the depths. Howl is haunted by hallucinations and nightmares involving his brother Paul, who recently died, apparently by his own hand. Howl also has to deal with his ex-wife, who meddles in his affairs. He manages to shut out these interferences until a young runaway arrives at his doorstep. Claire Lowe (Cyndy Preston) gradually captures the jaded musician's heart with her need for caring, and their relationship becomes a metaphor for the tender music Howl is trying to create. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Blu Mankuma - Mookie Saunders; Alan Jordan - Sal Goneau; Deborah Duchene - Bobby Sue; Janne Mortil - Star; Roman Podhora - Prison Guard; Paul Quarrington - Pete the Bartender; Suzanne Ristic - Monty's Wife; Tom Lavin - Monty Mann; Jim Byrnes - Dewey Moore
Credit
Charles Leitrants - Art Director, Eric Norlen - Associate Producer, Michelle Allan - Casting, John Buchan - Casting, Toni Burroughs-Rutter - Costume Designer, Laurence Horricks - Director, Richard J. Lewis - Director, Richard Martin - Editor, Robert Lantos - Executive Producer, David Hauka - Executive Producer, George Blondheim - Composer (Music Score), Daryl Powell - Musical Direction/Supervision, The Rheostatics - Songwriter, Rex Raglan - Production Designer, Craig Ibbotson - Cinematographer, Victor Sarin - Cinematographer, Steven Denure - Producer, Raymond Massey - Producer, Daryl Powell - Sound/Sound Designer, Bill Sheppard - Sound/Sound Designer, Dean Giammarco - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Sharpe - Sound/Sound Designer, Eric Hill - Sound/Sound Designer, Isaac Stozberg - Sound/Sound Designer, Marti Richa - Sound Editor, Shane Shemko - Sound Editor, Irving Mulch - Sound Editor, Paul Quarrington - Screenwriter, Richard J. Lewis - Screenwriter, Paul Quarrington - Book Author
The film stars Maury Chaykin as Desmond Howl, a former rock star who has lived in seclusion in a seaside mansion since the death of his brother Danny (Paul Gross) in a car accident. Howl spends his time composing a symphonic masterpiece for the whales who congregate in the ocean near his property. His reason for this is revealed in the title of one of his songs, "Have You Seen My Brother?" — Danny died by losing control of his car and driving off a cliff into the ocean.
One day, however, Howl awakens to find Claire (Cyndy Preston), a mysterious young woman, in his living room. Although Howl's world is disrupted, Claire ends up inspiring him to complete the symphony, to write his first great pop song in years, and to begin seeking connections with people again.
The character of Desmond Howl is based largely on Brian Wilson.
Music for the film was written by Rheostatics and released on the soundtrack album Music from the Motion Picture Whale Music. The song "Claire" was a Top 40 hit for the band in 1995. Quarrington had chosen the Rheostatics to compose the soundtrack because he had liked their 1992 album Whale Music, which was itself inspired by Quarrington's novel.
Awards
Chaykin won Best Actor at the 15th Genie Awards for his portrayal of Howl.
