A whaling ship called the Essex becomes shipwrecked and those on board struggle for survival.

Elderly Tom Nickerson recalls how, in 1819, he went to sea as cabin boy on the whaler 'The Essex', leaving Nantucket. Its recently promoted captain George Pollard is a kindly man, unlike first mate Owen Chase and Tom notes their mutual animosity though, inspired by tales from his grandfather, envisages life at sea as romantic. A storm and a food shortage puncture his illusions but spirits are raised when a whale is sighted and caught. However some two months later another whale attacks and sinks the ship - in what Tom believes to be an act of revenge - and the crew take to the long-boats. Chase overrules Pollard in deciding that, rather than risk cannibals on the nearby Society Islands, they make the gruelling 2,000 mile journey to Peru. Ninety days later only five of the crew are rescued, the others either dead or never found. An end-title relates what happened to Tom, Pollard and Chase in later life.—don @ minifie-1

Retire sailor Tpm Nickerson reminisces on his youth. As a poor orphan boy in Nantucket (Alaska), he was bullied and aspired a future at see. So he boarded for his maiden voyage the whaler Essex, its first time under civil captain George Pollard, who protected the cabin boy and cooks-mate, like other crew, against the grim first mate Owen Chase, who constantly challenges the less experienced 'softie' captain. Tom later earns respect and friendship from Chase's initially abusive cousin, during a storm as the captain was forced to seek whales way south. A whale whose calf they harpoon later follows, rams and sinks the Essex. The crew drifts for months in three boats, finally reaching a barren island, where cave graves prove it can't support them. The crew gets divided, Chase prevails over the captain ans leads them on the long way back to Peru.—KGF Vissers