'Big Miracle' is a story about working together

In October 1988, toward the end of the Cold War, much of the world was captivated when Tom Brokaw, then of NBC Nightly News, announced: “Time and hope are running out for three California gray whales who have been trapped for several days in the thickening ice off the Alaskan coast.”

The true story is the inspiration behind the film “Big Miracle," which follows a family of whales — Fred, Wilma and Bamm-Bamm — who find themselves trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. The film, based on the book “Freeing the Whales” by Thomas Rose, was directed by Ken Kwapis.

“I found the predicament of the whales so emotional,” Kwapis said during a phone interview. “I knew if only for that reason it was worth telling the story.”

The film presents a number of perspectives, beginning with Inupiat whalers who hunt in order to survive. Activists, media, corporate giants and political leaders form an unlikely team around a common goal.

“I love the idea of a story about a group of people each with their own agenda, often with competing agendas and who have to put aside their differences and solve a problem,” he said.

Kwapis, who also directed "He’s Just Not That Into You" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," approaches each film with the goal of making characters as relatable as possible while showing all points of view.

As the story weaves through the lives of various characters, the audience is introduced to Greenpeace volunteer Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) and young Nathan, played by newcomer Ahmaogak Sweeney. Kramer learns to put aside her prejudices and see whalers in a different light. Carlson comes to realize that chasing his dreams of being a famous reporter do not matter as much as he thought.

As for Nathan, it's a coming-of-age story that Kwapis says is compelling to young and old alike.

“I feel like sometimes people make films in a calculated way,” Kwapis said. “Calculated to please, and I’m not sure that always make for the best film.

“I feel that often Hollywood films today are technically brilliant, full of wonderful eye candy, but I often leave the theater having felt nothing. I want people to feel involved, emotionally invested in the three whales and I want them to feel equally involved in the human stories.”

The Inupiat people were an important part of the human story.