The movie “In the Heart of the Sea” will please Melville fans, Harry Potter fans and Hemsworth fans.
In the words of Thomas Nickerson, “the tragedy of the Essex is the story of men and a demon.”
The film will screen at Mercyhurst University, where all can experience the same story that inspired Melville’s Moby Dick.
Enjoy a look into the voyage of 21 men, where a giant sperm whale left them stranded at sea for 90 days, and ultimately changed their young lives forever.
The film, directed by Ron Howard, is based on the 2000 non-fiction book by Nathaniel Philbrick, also entitled “In the Heart of the Sea.”
A story within a story, the conversation between Melville and Nickerson takes us back to 1820, when the American whaling ship Essex encountered a whale of unthinkable size and strength, forcing the surviving crew to abandon ship.
The journey to shore was hundreds of miles long. With limited supplies, the starving men must resort to cannibalism to stay alive.
Chris Hemsworth plays the lead role, a Nantucket farmer and whaler, Owen Chase.
“Skyfall’s” Ben Winshaw plays Herman Melville while he visits an elderly Thomas Nickerson inquiring about the story of the demon whale.
Brendan Gleeson, familiarly known as Professor Mad-Eye Moody, stars as the elderly Nickerson and Tom Holland plays young Nickerson.
All are welcome to partake in the incredible, eye-opening adventure on March 13 in the Taylor Little Theatre. Screening begins at 2 p.m. and will run for just over two hours.
Mercyhurst students may purchase discounted tickets for $1 with their I.D.