WHEN THE WHALES CAME (1989) **1/2 Casually artsy, if that's not a contradiction in terms. Well crafted, beautiful locations, good acting all around (Helen Mirren, say no more; also young Helen Pearce), nice sensible moving slow storyline with two Hollywood endings pasted on the end. Most of the film is paced at island speed, making gentle observations on various matters, and moving along. The ones on parenting are the best, though the wife's reception of the drunken pub crawl is also nice. Not as much National Geographic type Norwhal footage as the title might lead you to believe, but there's no denying the natural beauty of the Scilly Islands or the effortless proletarian elegance of the cast.
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