Watch Mozart and the Whale

Mozart and the Whale is a romantic-comedy-drama from 2005 that stars Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, and Gary Cole. The film is directed by Petter Næss and produced by Harald Kloser, who also provides the musical score. Mozart and the Whale tackles a sensitive topic and aims at raising awareness and acceptance of people with Asperger's syndrome.

The movie revolves around two people, Donald Morton (Josh Hartnett) and Isabelle Sorenson (Radha Mitchell), who both have Asperger's syndrome. Donald is intelligent and talented with numbers and statistics but sees the world in a very structured and logical way, which often causes him to struggle with social interactions. Meanwhile, Isabelle is an artist with a passion for painting wildlife, but her social skills are just as challenging as Donald's.

They meet each other at a group therapy session for people with Asperger's and immediately form a connection. As they start to explore their feelings, they become embroiled in a relationship that challenges their shared difficulties in communicating and relating to other people. The pair's journey is filled with joy, frustration, misunderstanding and kindness.

Josh Hartnett delivers a powerful performance and reveals a new facet of his talent as an actor. He adeptly represents how an individual with Asperger's syndrome may see the world, allowing the audience to understand how traits like isolation can be a defense mechanism in a world that seems to always be rejecting them. Radha Mitchell is also impressive in her performance as she brings a sense of complexity and emotion to the character of Isabelle. Together, they share a chemistry that is both touching and genuine.

The rest of the cast, including Gary Cole, Sheila Kelley, and Erica Leerhsen does an excellent job playing the supporting characters that not only help the main characters to grow but also adds to the richness of the plot. The strength of this ensemble cast ensures that Mozart and the Whale is not only a well-directed film but also memorable and compelling due to the talent involved.

The film takes a rare chance in tackling an area that is dark and often unexplored. Mozart and the Whale tries to be as authentic as possible, taking into account the experiences of both individuals with Asperger's and those around them. It is not easy to capture accurately the nuances of this condition while portraying it sensitively, but the movie manages to do justice with authenticity and grace.

Moreover, Mozart and the Whale succeeds on multiple levels – as a love story, a romantic-comedy, and drama. The scenes between Josh and Radha are touching, vulnerable and emotionally honest. There are moments of joy, such as when they discover they share a love for Mozart. But there are also moments of sadness and heartbreak, such as when misunderstandings lead to trust issues. The film brings to light the challenges of living with individuals with Asperger's and highlights the importance of compassion, fairness, and inclusivity.

The cinematography of the movie is stunning. The beautiful scenery in Seattle is captured beautifully, and the footage of Isabelle's paintings of wildlife is excellently reproduced. The music is also commendable, giving an ambiance to the movie that compliments the tone perfectly.

The final verdict is that although Mozart and the Whale is a daring film, it is also one that works. It is an honest, romantic and hopeful story that explores the world from a unique perspective. The message of understanding, acceptance and empathy resonates strongly with audiences of every kind. Mozart and the Whale not only entertains, but it also informs and enlightens, recommending it as a must-watch.

Mozart and the Whale is a 2005 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.