Castaway on the Moon
Contents |
User Rating
Current user rating: 94/100 (108 votes)
Profile
- Movie: Castaway on the Moon (International English title) / Mr. Kim's Floating Story (literal title)
- Revised romanization: Kimssi Pyoroogi
- Hangul: 김씨표류기
- Director: Lee Hae-Jun
- Writer: Lee Hae-Jun
- Producer: Mu-ryeong Kim
- Cinematographer
- Release Date: May 14, 2009
- Runtime: 119 min
- Distributor: Cinema Service
- Language: Korean
- Country: South Korea
Plot
Kim Seung-Keun (Jung Jae-Young) stands on the ledge of an overpass bridge above the Han River. He’s in way over his head in debt and he’s ready to end his life right then and there. Mr. Kim then jumps off the bridge, but due to his own misfortune (or good fortune) he ends up washed ashore on a small nearby island. At first, Mr. Kim looks for every conceivable way to get off the island – which is in plain view of several nearby high rise buildings and apartment complexes. After a few days, Mr. Kim becomes acclimated to his solitary existence and he even starts to find comfort in his primitive surroundings.
Meanwhile, a young reclusive lady named Kim Jung-Yeon (Jung Ryeo-Won) sits in her room, addicted to the online world of "Cyworld." She hasn’t left her apartment in three years and she doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon. In the evenings, when Jung-Yeon is finished updating her Cyworld home page, she dabbles in her other hobby which is photographing the moon. During one of those evenings, when Jung-Yeon is taking shots of the moon, she notices a "HELP" sign scrawled onto the sand of a nearby island. She then notices a strange man walking around the island and Jung-Yeon starts to view this man as her own personal alien.
Notes
- "Castaway on the Moon" opened #3 at the South Korean box office selling 246,899 tickets on 348 screens (13.6% of all ticket sales) during its opening May 15th - May 17th weekend.
- "Castaway on the Moon" sold a total of 728,000 ticket sales, grossing 4.7 billion ₩, through its domestic theatrical run (staying in the top ten for 4 weeks).
Cast
|
|
| Jung Jae-Young | Jung Ryeo-Won |
| Kim Seung-Keun | Kim Jung-Yeon |
Additional Cast Members:
- Park Young-Seo - delivery man
- Yang Mi-Kyeong - Jeong-Yeon's mom
- Kyo-han Ku - Utilities Man #1
- Sang-il Lee - Utilities Man #2
- Min Kyeong-Jin - Apartment Security Guard
- Nam-yeok Jang - Bus driver
- Sang-hun Lee - Seung-Keun's father
- Jang So-Yeon - Kim Seung-Keun's girlfriend
- Lim Chae-Seon - passenger on excursion ship
Trailers
Image Gallery
Film Festivals
- 2009 (34th) Toronto International Film Festival - September 10th-19th - Contemporary World Cinema
- 2009 (28th) Vancouver International Film Festival - October 1st-16th - Dragons and Tigers
- 2009 (14th) Pusan International Film Festival - October 8th-16th - Korean Cinema Today - Panorama
- 2009 (29th) Hawaii International Film Festival - October 15th-25th - Spotlight on Korea
- 2009 (24th) Mar del Plata Film Festival - November 7th-15th
- 2010 (12th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 10th-14th - The Features Competition
- 2010 (12th) Udine Far East Film - April 23-May 1 *Italian Premiere
- 2010 (9th) New York Asian Film Festival - June 25 - July 8 *New York Premiere
- 2010 (14th) Fantasia Film Festival - July 8-28 *Montreal Premiere
- 2010 (1st) Korean Film Festival in Australia - October 1-5, 2010
- 2011 (6th) Korean Film Festival In Paris - October 11-18, 2011 - Landscape 2011
Awards
- NETPAC Award - 2009 (29th) Hawaii International Film Festival - October 15-25, 2010
- Best Actor (Jung Jae-Young) - 2009 (32nd) Golden Cinematography Awards - December, 2009
- Audience Award - 2010 (12th) Udine Far East Film - April 23-May 1, 2010
- Black Dragon Audience Award - 2010 (12th) Udine Far East Film - April 23-May 1, 2010
- NYAFF 2010 Audience Award - 2010 (9th) New York Asian Film Festival - June 25 - July 8, 2010
- Special Jury Prize: - 2010 (14th) Fantasia Film Festival - July 8-28, 2010
- Audience Awards - Best Asian Film (Bronze) - 2010 (14th) Fantasia Film Festival - July 8-28, 2010
Comments
Leave a Comment
- South Korean films
- 2009 South Korean films
- Films
- 2009 films
- Romance films
- 2009 Romance films
- K Romance films
- Romantic-Comedy films
- 2009 Romantic-Comedy films
- K Romantic-Comedy films
- Hikikomori films
- 2009 Hikikomori films
- K Hikikomori films
- Deserted Island films
- 2009 Deserted Island films
- K Deserted Island films
- Award Winning films
- 2009 Award Winning films
- K Award Winning films
- Award Winning-Romance films
- 2009 Award Winning-Romance films
- K Award Winning-Romance films
- Award Winning-Romantic-Comedy films
- 2009 Award Winning-Romantic-Comedy films
- K Award Winning-Romantic-Comedy films
- Award Winning-Hikikomori films
- 2009 Award Winning-Hikikomori films
- K Award Winning-Hikikomori films
- Award Winning-Deserted Island films
- 2009 Award Winning-Deserted Island films
- K Award Winning-Deserted Island films
- Cinema Service distributed films
- 2009 Cinema Service distributed films
Gerardo Says:
Apr 18 2012 2:00 pm
Started to turn off the movie on Netflix...then when he started to eat the nectar on the flowers I kept watching. I am so glad I did. I truly enjoyed this movie and how two lonely, dysfunctional people helped each other, albeit from a distance. Until the end that is.
james Says:
Apr 09 2012 1:10 am
Just saw this on netflix and I have to say that I am really surprised that this did not do well at the box office. Superb acting and incredibly well made. I will be recommending this to my friends.
mkruger Says:
Mar 31 2012 8:56 pm
This is a great movie, a rare gem, transcending any divide of language and culture. While a completely different genre, I rank it right up there is other great Korean films such as Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and JSA, etc.
Hugo Says:
Mar 24 2012 10:23 am
A master piece.
Dy Says:
Mar 04 2012 12:46 pm
This movie is amazing on so many levels. The amount of detail and thought put into the characters and every shot is incredible. Minute details such as the female lead character's hair showing that it used to be bleached blonde, but has about 3 years worth of growth on it since then.
Scott Says:
Feb 18 2012 12:21 am
Simply great: the cinematography, the writing (though I relied on the subtitles), the fragile human portrayal. A revelation, really. As an outsider, I have witnessed small glimpses of Korean higher culture filtered through a dirty lens of corporate trash focused on the lowest common denominator with far more than just a passing interest over the last twenty years. I have often been bored or mortified by formulaic soap operas, mediocre horror flicks and puppet-like girl bands featuring forced dance moves and canned music.
This film must be truly representative of what Korean actors, musicians, and artists are currently producing, but like the corporate exports from the US in the 1980s -- Dallas, Rambo, and the like -- the world is typically exposed to the basest examples and sees stereotyped images. Korean movie execs, please send more like this!
NewKDramaAddict Says:
Dec 24 2011 2:32 pm
Who thought I would enjoy a movie that just focused on two people. This was really good. Unfortunately, it was never explained why Jung Ryeo-Won's character was hiding herself. We assumed that something had happened 3 years ago. Its worth it but its not your normal movie. Its definitely reminiscent of "Castaway"
loyalfan_1 Says:
Dec 05 2011 8:52 am
I have not this movie yet, but believing it's good. I would love to see Ryu Jung being a secret agent for a secret society and killing her enemies one by one. I haven't got a chance to see this type of drama yet. A drama with actions and romantic love story will be interesting. It's not her fault when the drama or movie flop. It's just something we can't know. No matter how she fare in her drama, she is still the No.1 actress in the eyes of the fans. No one can take her place of being the best and most beautiful person.
Ian Nafiri Says:
Nov 26 2011 6:57 pm
This film is amazing.
ggruehl Says:
Oct 16 2011 9:01 pm
I have been on a nonstop search for the orange octagon shaped fanny pack the delivery boy has around his waist.. HELP.. or. HELLO
unamaruna Says:
Jan 14 2011 12:35 am
I like this movie, especially Jeong Jae-Yeong. He is a good and smart actor..
unamaruna Says:
Jan 14 2011 12:33 am
Yesterday I was watch this movie. So cute and funny..I really like this movie, especially when Jeong Jae-Yeong act. He is really a great and smart actor. I will be a number one fans yo!
fern Says:
Nov 15 2010 3:40 am
the story was different and i like this movie ,simple and unique romcom movie ,actors have well justifed their characters from the begining to ending movie grabs your attention
ludi Says:
Jul 25 2010 2:55 am
I simply like this movie!
Karolin Says:
May 21 2010 3:23 pm
An international coment (in English)Do you remember?.... Just one idea comes to my mind when I saw this movie a couple of times....
""Castaway on the moon... is a POEM"" !!!
william sengdara Says:
Apr 17 2010 6:13 am
I loved the end: when she ran to him. Excellent.
brian Says:
Mar 06 2010 4:12 pm
I loved this movie!
Strange but fun. Not quite the art film I thought it might be, but a more mainstream movie that doesn't push anything too disturbing or deep. Cute idea and quite well executed too.
Take a break from typical Korean dramas and love stories and watch this for a change.
bye bye
vivi Says:
Dec 09 2009 5:01 am
I kinda believe that the movie flopped due to the horrible poster :p
Phil Says:
Sep 30 2009 5:03 am
wow. it was the best korean film I’ve seen in a while.
Willby Says:
Sep 06 2009 5:04 am
I saw it, it was great ^^
keletonic Says:
Sep 05 2009 5:06 am
I want to see this so bad.
Ki Says:
Sep 04 2009 5:40 pm
Like most things in life, it’s rare that you’ll come across a film that doesn’t seem derivative of another work. The new South Korean film “Castaway on the Moon” isn’t one of those rare film either as you’ll likely pick up on its influences like the 2000 film “Cast Away,” Joon-ho Bong’s “Shaking Tokyo” from the 2008 omnibus film “Tokyo!,” and Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s 2003 film “Last Life in the Universe.” If “Castaway on the Moon” was structured just to recreate these prior films than you should expect a stinker, but like a great hip-hop track that spins out a few well placed samples into a song of its own, “Castaway on the Moon” easily spins out these influences to make a film that can stand on its own. The film is directed by Hae-jun Lee who turns in a stellar sophomore effort after his brilliant debut “Like a Virgin.” There’s also well known actor Jae-yeong Jeong turning in his most appealing performance since “Someone Special” and the up & coming young actress Ryeo-won Jeong making a splash as a reclusive hikki mori.
As you might guess by now, “Castway on the Moon” turns out to be a good ole fashion love story told from an unusual vantage point. Because of the distance between the main characters the pair rarely communicates in real time. This allows the film’s director, Hae-jun Lee, to integrate several charming vignettes on Mr. Kim’s plight as a castaway and Ms. Kim’s plight as another type of castaway. The heart of the story really unfolds in the third act once the pair makes overtures to meet face to face. Unlike most commercial Korean films, Hae-jun Lee leaves excessive melodrama alone and gives the actors room to bring about emotions more naturally. Kudos goes out to Jae-yeong Jeong for turning in his best performance since “Someone Special” and Ryeo-won Jeong for exhibiting more of her unique charms that she already displayed in “Two Faces of My Girlfriend.”
“Castaway on the Moon” turns out to be a charming & highly unique film – especially considering its origins as a mainstream Korean film. The film elicits a surprising amount romance (one that’s geared especially for lovers of oddball & misfit characters) and also judicious amounts of smiles & laughter. Not sure why, but “Castaway on the Moon” did flop at the Korean box office selling only 700,000 tickets. But don’t let that little fact deter you. Take it as more of a confirmation that majorities don’t always know best.
MovieCritic Says:
Aug 31 2009 3:48 pm
If you cross the movies "Castaway" (staring Tom Hanks) and Rear Window (Directed by Alfred Hitchcock) you get this movie. To accept the realism of the story one might have to take it with a pinch of salt.
I love this movie. Jae-yeong Jeong has an infectious smile and all the movies I have seen him in have been enjoyable. This is the second time I've seen Ryeo-won Jeong and I have to say she has grown more beautiful since "Two Faces of My Girlfriend".
The plot description is pretty much sum it up. There isn't much dialogue and most of the script is done in monologues (soliloquies).
Highly recommended