On Top of the Whale (1982): Cast & Plot
On Top of the Whale is a 1982 fantasy film directed by Raúl Ruiz, starring Willeke van Ammelrooy as Eve, Fernando Bordeu and Jean Badin. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Raúl Ruiz
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Original language
-
Dutch - Studio
- Film International Rotterdam
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is On Top of the Whale About?
The premise of On Top of the Whale without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A satirical take on anthropology, linguistics and cultural imperialism, the story follows an eccentric group of linguists who trek into a fabricated Patagonian landscape to document the final speakers of a vanishing tongue. The language, reduced to a single word, is portrayed as containing every possible meaning.
On Top of the Whale Themes & Keywords
· 16 tags- language
- linguist
- linguistics
- patagonia
- anthropology
- avant garde film
- misleading title
- south america
- written by director
- multiple languages
- multilingual
- oneiric
+4 more Show fewer
- indigenous people
- anthropologist
- cult director
- animal in title
On Top of the Whale Cast & Characters
Willeke van Ammelrooy leads the cast as Eve, with Fernando Bordeu as Narciso and Jean Badin as Luis. Directed by Raúl Ruiz; 7 actors are credited in all.
- Director Raúl Ruiz
- Willeke van Ammelrooy as Eve
- Fernando Bordeu as Narciso
- Jean Badin as Luis
- Herbert Curiel as Adam
Also Starring in On Top of the Whale
· 3 moreMore from Raúl Ruiz
More films directed by Raúl Ruiz: Socialist Realism, The Tango of the Widower and Its Distorting Mirror, The Wandering Soap Opera and Nucingen House.
On Top of the Whale Plot Summary
What happens in On Top of the Whale from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens on a Dutch coastline where the anthropologist Jean, and his wife Eva, Willeke van Ammelrooy, are approached by a charismatic communist millionaire named Narciso, Fernando Bordeu. He invites them to his remote house in Patagonia to document the last two surviving Yachanes Indians, and they bring along their daughter Anita. Jean sets out to interpret the Indians’ speech, a task that quickly proves more elusive than expected.
Full summary
The whole story of On Top of the Whale, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know On Top of the Whale?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Jean's profession?
On Top of the Whale Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “En el techo de la ballena” and “El techo de la ballena”.
- Also known as
-
- En el techo de la ballena
- El techo de la ballena
- Le Toit de la baleine
Seen On Top of the Whale?
Movies Like On Top of the Whale
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Whale of a Tale, Whale Nation and Top Line.
On Top of the Whale FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of On Top of the Whale, each answered in a sentence.
How long is On Top of the Whale?
On Top of the Whale runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was On Top of the Whale released?
On Top of the Whale was released on February 4, 1982.
Who directed On Top of the Whale?
On Top of the Whale was directed by Raúl Ruiz.
More films by Raúl Ruiz Who is in the cast of On Top of the Whale?
On Top of the Whale stars Willeke van Ammelrooy as Eve, Fernando Bordeu as Narciso and Jean Badin as Luis, among 7 credited actors.
Does On Top of the Whale have a post-credit scene?
No. On Top of the Whale has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is On Top of the Whale in?
The original language of On Top of the Whale is Dutch.
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