The film is a chaotic mix of French New Wave surrealism, industrial noise music, and slapstick comedy. It was booed at Cannes in 1987 but won a cult following in Switzerland and France for its visual audacity.

The Swiss Film Archive (Cinémathèque Suisse) in Lausanne holds the only known of the surviving film materials. In 2022, they screened a restored version during a retrospective on "Forgotten Swiss Road Movies." The archive does not stream films online, but researchers and students can request a private viewing on-site. This is the only true high quality source available to the public.

La Baleine Blanche (1987) is a French dramatic television series directed by Jean Kerchbron

La Baleine Blanche (1987): A Forgotten Cinematic Journey Released in November 1987, (also known as Children and the White Whale ) remains a rare and enigmatic entry in French television history. Directed by Jean Kerchbron, this production takes viewers on an extraordinary journey set against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas, exploring profound themes of life, death, and burgeoning love. The Story and Vision