Castaway on the Moon

Castaway on the Moon is a 2009 Korean film about 2 people who don't want to interact with society or others anymore. It's a sublime under the radar film (to U.S. audiences anyway) that's definitely worth a watch. I caught this film when it first came out a few years ago, and just watched it again recently. Bottom line; it's competently made, totally engrossing, and absolutely terrific...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

First and foremost, this film has nothing to do with living on the moon, or being stranded on a far away desert island for eternity; it's actually the polar opposite! Some people (I call them morons) will try to explain that this movie is very similar to/a rip off of the American film 'Castaway" starring Tom Hanks. Although there are some parallels to be drawn, these two films have only one thing in common (i.e. there's a guy that's separated from society). Don't get me wrong, I actually like Tom Hanks' "Castaway" quite a bit, but aside from the fact the both film's protagonists are stuck on an island, these two films aren't really related to each other whatsoever; the primary difference being one movie's protagonist wants to get back to his life, and the other wants to escape it.

What this particular movie is about is a guy who's essentially tired of, and has been beaten down by, the "rat race" that is his life in modern society. He wants to "end it all" by committing suicide, but he fails in doing so, and is subsequently presented an accidental opportunity to "escape from it all" instead. After some initial resistance, he soon comes to fully embrace this opportunity he has been given. On the parallel side, this movie is also about a very odd girl who's afraid of society and can no longer cope in order to function within it. She's long ago "shut herself off" (or, perhaps, "shut herself in", would be more appropriate) from interacting with anyone on any type of personal level.

As the film progresses, these two main protagonists (who pretty much occupy 95+% of the screen time), slowly form an unconventional bond via highly unusual means, and they each come to rely on one another more and more as time goes by while they both try to overcome their own societal fears, concerns, and issues, as best they can.

The way the main characters interact with each other from a distance throughout the entire film is unique, profound, and charming. Both the primary actor and actress are spot on perfect in their respective roles, and they both do a magnificent job of what's asked of them within the framework of the story.

Ultimately, all this really boils down to is just a simple & finely paced film that it is immensely watchable and quite enjoyable. In many ways, it's also a fine little parable regarding what modern society has become over the years, and how we all must interact within it, or face getting left behind.

Personally, I could hardly look away from this film. It's equal parts odd, funny, sweet, sad, beautiful, and it is Borderline Brilliant! What more can I say?...other than; "Korean cinema does it again!"

Highly Recommended! Not Optional Viewing! This is a MUST SEE Film!!!

9 out of 10 stars!

I really loved this film. I am not a huge fan of Korean cinema but after this one I may have to rethink this. This is a funny, moving, great film about two people who find each other. It has been such a long time since something really excited me as much as this film did. No need for a remake this is perfect just as it is. The cinematography is creative and stunning and the dialog is clever and endearing. It is really a story about how a person disintegrates and is reborn and inspires another lost soul to wake up and come out into the sunlight. Reminds me a bit of Wristcutters. Grab some black bean noodles, curl up on the sofa and enjoy.

For almost 2 weeks ago I was told that there was a new movie being showed at out local cinema. I said "cool". Then I was told the reviewers didn't actually know what to say about the movie and just told everyone to go see it for yourselves. Then I said " we should give this movie a try".

We bought tickets, sat down in the smallest cinema room I had ever been in with 5 other people. I asked what the title of this movie was and I was told it was Castaway On The Moon. I thought it would be a rip-off of the movie Castaway but would involve space.

The movie started. I immediately started giving myself predictions of what would happen next. And very early in the beginning I was convinced it was going to rip-off the movie Castaway even thought the beginning of this movie had nothing to do with the Tom Hanks movie.

After very few minutes I stopped thinking. I stopped thinking about everything. My mind was literally not awake. The only part of my body that was there was my eyes and ears, and now I will forever take care them. Because without my eyes and ears I would never ever had been able to witness this piece of unexplainable incredible art!

This film is art. It is one of the best examples of moving art. Moving as a picture that moves, and as in an emotion not possible to really explain.

Even though it's not so to say an English speaking movie, it is still meant for the western audience. In fact it's meant for the western, northern, southern, and eastern audience.

I didn't for a moment think about the composition, the lighting, the color work or any of that stuff. Not even the acting. Everything was just.. well I can't put another name on it that perfect!

This movie has so many messages and shows them all in such a brilliant way! I could only name a couple but I know there are so many more..... I just don't know how to put words on them. Even showing is something I do not know how to do. It's just something you have to see, think about and understand.

I can't tell you how good this is or how bad it is, because it's neither. It's not good, it's not bad, it's something else that stretches above the words knows as good, great, brilliant and incredible. I don't know whatever word that would be and I don't even think there is a word for it or can ever be a word for it! It's just something you feel. And that is what this movie is! It is a feeling! Not a word, not a story! It is a feeling! Everything this movie, film, a piece of art, you can call it whatever you want but that's what this is!

I know this is a lot of praise for a movie and many will probably question what I have said about this movie but I'm telling you, this is a movie you have to see for yourself!

When the movie ended I sat in my chair just watching and listening to the credits, waiting for my brain to catch up with everything my eyes and ears had just experienced. As the last person left I left the theater.

On my way back I was walking with those who watched the movie with me and I could not come up with a single word to say. And neither could my company. We were all just walking without a word and didn't manage to say anything until we got home. During that 10 minute walk, it felt like we were all just trying to come up with something to say about the movie but no one could do it! When we started talking again we didn't mention the movie. We didn't mention it because we didn't know what to say about it.

When I try to explain this movie, I literally say "It's a movie". I say nothing negative about it and nothing positive either cause no matter how many words I use, I could never ever be able to explain it!

This movie isn't a movie. It's not a film. It's honestly a feeling. Which is why I can't explain this amazing experience with words or even show it. It must be felt. It must be experienced.

I was really stunned by this film. Expected something good - I have high opinion of South Corean cinema (Oldboy!!), but this exceeded all my expectations. To cut a long story short: it excels in every aspect of film-making - directing, script, music, photography and acting. The main male character is very good, but the female is a revelation. This little film blows Hanks' "Cast away" out of the water completely, by originality, depth, intelligence, wit, emotionality. And for a film apparently quite sad it contains an amazing amount of humor. It reminded me a little of "Chungking Express", another Asian favorite of mine, as that one is also about social outcasts, weirdos, loneliness and... food. Funny thing, I do not know the English title of this Corean gem. It is highly recommended.

I can't believe I hadn't heard of this movie until it showed up in my Netflix recommendations. Why isn't everyone talking about this movie? Why didn't it win best foreign picture? Why... Oh, right. No car chases. No sex scenes. No scenes in bars, or at football games. Subtitles. If you can enjoy a movie with subtitles, if you don't think someone has to look or act just like you to be comprehensible as a human being, if you've ever read a poem and loved it, you will likely love this movie.

I'm not even going to talk about the plot. The plot is wonderful, but not really the point. This is a movie about isolation, and human connections, and what makes us human at all. It is a social commentary, and a beautifully told fable. To call it a romantic comedy, to compare it to an American movie with a similar title, is to miss the point entirely.

Warning: before you watch this movie, you'd better figure out where you can find a local source for black bean noodles ('jajangmyun' in Korean). Even if you've never tasted them, you'll be craving them by the end of the movie. I have tasted them - fresh from a street vendor in Seoul - and I'm now nearly wild for black bean noodles.

And this basic hunger for a simple comfort food - for enjoyment of sustenance with all the associations that come with true comfort food - sums up the movie nicely.