“Shipwrecked” (also known as “Miserable” , Eng. Castaway ) is a British feature film from 1986 , filmed by Nicholas Roag and based on a true life story on a desert island for men and women for several months. Oliver Reed and Amanda Donohue starred in the film. For Donohue, who in most scenes had to act naked, this was the second movie role in her career [1] . Initially, the director offered to play the main role of the singer Kate Bush in the film, but she refused [2] , although she provided her own song for the film.
| Shipwrecked | |
|---|---|
| Castaway | |
| Genre | Robinsonade drama Adventure |
| Producer | Nicholas Roag |
| Producer | |
| Author script | Allan Scott, based on the book by Lucy Irwin |
| In the main cast | Oliver reed Amanda Donohue |
| Operator | Harvey harrison |
| Composer | Stanley Myers |
| Duration | 117 min |
| A country |  Great Britain |
| Tongue | |
| Year | 1986 |
| IMDb | |
The film premiered on November 13, 1986 at the 30th London Film Festival as the opening film. [3]
Content
Historical background
In 1980, British journalist Gerald Kingsland decided to conduct a social experiment and live a year on a tropical island far from civilization. In search of his companion, he posted an ad in Time Out magazine to which Lucy Irwin responded. Because of the demands of the Australian immigration authorities, they were married to simplify the process of obtaining visas. In 1982, the couple went to the small island of Twin, one of the islands of the Torres Strait , located between New Guinea and Australia. Lucy was 25 years old, Gerald 49.
On the island, the couple faced both discomfort and lack of mutual understanding. When the island was hit by a drought, the couple nearly died from the lack of fresh water, but was saved by the natives from the neighboring island of Badu. Returning to Britain, Gerald and Lucy divorced and both wrote a book. Roag's film is based on the eponymous book by Lucy, released in 1984 [4] [5] .
Story
Gerald Kingsland publishes in the magazine “Time Out” an advertisement about finding a companion for 20-30 years to live on for a year on a desert island . Lucy Irwin responds to the ad. Couple preparing for the journey. For Lucy, the demand to marry Gerald comes as a surprise, but after hesitation she agrees. In September, they arrive on the island of Twin with a supply of food and tools.
Having built a temporary tent, Gerald and Lucy enjoy life in a warm climate by the sea. Gerald builds a temporary tent and sometimes catches fish, Lucy collects edible clams. However, over time, the couple deteriorate relationships and household problems arise. Lucy accuses Gerald of being under the tent all day and not building a more reliable shelter in place of a temporary shelter. She also denies Gerald sex. One day, knocking down coconuts from a tall palm tree, Gerald, along with coconuts, knocks down a nest of wild wasps that pounce on him. He gets serious bites, and his legs then swell and tear. To expand the nutritional ration in the future, Gerald plants several vegetable beds.
One day, a boat with two young men (Jacen and Rod) swim up to the island, handing out census sheets to fill out. They spend the day on the island to the delight of Lucy, who missed her companionship, but they are causing Gerald’s jealousy, who suspects Lucy of treason.
A drought begins on the island, the drinking water supplies are exhausted and the shoots of vegetable bushes dry. Lucy and Gerald's physical condition worsens because of the monotonous food, they constantly quarrel. However, help comes to them, and two nuns-nurses make Gerald the dressing. With the help of the locals, Gerald is building a stronger shelter. Also, the locals begin to bring a couple of food, and then Gerald himself from time to time goes to the "mainland" for what is needed.
During a storm, Gerald and Lucy’s shelter collapses. Meanwhile, the year of stay on the island ends. Lucy doesn't want to leave the island, but she has to do it. On the plane, she discovers a note from Gerald saying "I love you." Gerald himself observes the plane taking Lucy from the island, where he has returned and is restoring the shelter with the help of local residents.
Cast
- Oliver Reed - Gerald Kingsland
- Amanda Donohue - Lucy Irwin
- Tony Rickards - Jason
- Todd Rippon - Rod
- John Sessions - a man in a pub
- Virginia Hay - Janice
- Sorel Johnson - Lara, Lucy's Neighbor
- Len Peykhopa - Ronald, a local resident
- Georgina Hale - Nun (Sister Saint Margaret)
- Francis Barber - Nun (Sister Saint Winifred)
Music
The instrumental part of the movie soundtrack was written by Stanley Myers .
On the opening credits of the film, the English singer Kate Bush ’s song “Be Kind to My Mistakes”, which has not been published before, sounds. In a slightly different version, the song appeared on the reprint of the album Hounds of Love in 1997 .
Criticism
- On the Rotten Tomatoes aggregator , the film has a unanimous approval level of 100% based on 8 professional reviews [6] .
Notes
- ↑ Donohoe discusses getting naked with Oliver Reed
- ↑ wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! 60 unbelievable facts about Kate Bush
- ↑ Every BFI London Film Festival opening night film | Bfi
- ↑ 4 real stories about people who survived on a desert island
- ↑ Alone on the island Quit work, family, friends and urban comfort - who and why is going to an uninhabited island?
- ↑ Castaway (1987) - Rotten Tomatoes
Links
- Movie info on Time Out
- Movie info on Variety