Deep in the wild Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and South Africa, a snowy volcano, nine thousand feet high, rears up from the sea like a great white whale.
Five times that great white whale of a mountain, tried to kill the first team that sort to reach its summit. Yet in 1963, back they sailed, through the worst seas in the world, to try again, this time with legendary explorer, Bill Tilman as their skipper.
This is the extraordinary tale those first attempts to climb Big Ben, the smoking glacier ringed volcano on Heard Island, Australia’s loneliest, most remote outpost, told by those who were there. At times, expeditioner John Crick sings the story too, as befits such an epic saga.
The beautifully shot original footage of the expedition, the brilliant music score, the quirky humour of the expeditioners, the utter boldness of the quest, adds spice to one of the least known yet most audacious Australian adventure tales of the 20th century.
“Gripping, edge of the seat stuff.”
‘An absolute triumph. I found the film incredibly powerful.”
“Heart stopping. Funny. A ripping yarn!”
VIEW TRAILER
UPCOMING SCREENINGS: Click highlighted links for tickets
- Aug 2024:- Screenings Melbourne Documentary Festival Encore , Perth, Busselton, Albany, Fremantle and Hobart
- Oct 2024:- We hope to have screenings in Canberra, Sydney, the NSW mid and north coast and Brisbane. Links will be added as venues and dates are confirmed. Follow The Whale on FB & Insta for news.
GRAND PRIZE & BEST DIRECTOR AWARD, Mendi International Mountain Film Festival, Balboa, Spain 2023, BEST EXPEDITION FILM AWARD & ITALIAN ALPINE CLUB AWARD Trento International Mountain film Festival. Italy 2024
Directed and Produced by Michael Dillon. Editor: Mike Balson. Sound: Michael Worthington. Music: Paul Jarman.
Interviews, Reviews and Articles
- The Australian 60th Anniversary Article, July 22, 2024 (Page 14)
- ABC Melbourne Evenings Michael Dillon chats with David Astle (1:32:30 to 1:49:33
- Review: Documentary Drive Review
- We are Moving Stories Interviews Michael Dillon
- Review: David Parer, ANARE Club
The Great White Whale – The Back Story
- Big Ben – The Great White Whale
- The Expeditioners
- Their Sturdy Ship – Patanela
- Their Great White Whale – Big Ben on Heard Island
- The Filmmakers
Archival Interviews, Reviews, Articles
- Dr Grahame Budd on Heard Island in 2012. Video
- Australian Geographic: Australia’s first ascent of Big Ben
- Australian Geographic Article by Dr Grahame Budd
- Aurora Journal Autumn 1964: The Souther Indian Ocean Expedition to Heard Island
- Dr Graham Budd’s ANARE report on the 1963 Expedition.
- Aurora Journal Autumn 2011: Heard Island – The Climbing of Big Ben (Tim Bowden)
- Exploration of Heard Island 1947 – 1972 by Dr Grahame Budd
- Bill Tilman’s account -preparing for the voyage.
- The Bishop Museum – Insects on Heard. Philip Temple
- Yachting World 2023: The Sea and The Snow, A Stunning Tale of Adventure
- Article Otago Daily Times 2024
- Alpine Journal Article by Warwick Deacock
Exhibitor Enquiries