Castaway movies are always a treat, but this is one is a little different. It's essentially about two ordinary Londoners who are able to make this ultimate fantasy a reality, but then face the problem of things not going as they thought it would.
A few words of advice (gleaned from this movie) to anyone wishing to live out this fantasy. Pick your island mate with great care. Find someone your own age. Only go with someone you're sexually attracted to, and make sure he or she feels the same way. If you go with someone you're not attracted to, be prepared to put out. For god's sake, go on a few holidays together first. And not just for a week. Try to find someone who is self-reliant and handy, a natural explorer and a hard worker. Avoid picking a user or a loser. Go into therapy for a few months beforehand to make sure you understand your relationship and psychological issues, because they will all arise to bite you in the ass once your diversions are gone. Try to find out what you are really looking for. Take survival and first aid courses first. Study the ecosystem. Bring lots of medicine. Don't do anything that will get you injured.
If you're very lucky, you'll find someone who looks like Amanda Donohue when she was 24. The nudity in the film wasn't gratuitous though because it was essential for understanding Gerald's frustration. However, I can see why some might think it overdone.
And if you're very lucky, you'll end up with an island like Tuin (filmed in the Seychelles). The director does his best to show us how this island was perfect for Lucy.
The problem for Gerald is that the island is not what Gerald really wanted. In a nutshell, Lucy is into the island, Gerald is into Lucy. It's essentially a "Huis Clos" drama. Like a paradise island, a sexy young lover is what many older men want as the door is gently closing. It's a powerful fantasy that even in fruition proves fruitless.
This movie is under-rated here on IMDb.com. I can think of several reasons for that. I didn't like the complicated Oliver Reed character at all. Oliver Reed was the right casting choice, because I can imagine Oliver Reed being a little like Gerald Kingsley.
This movie worked for me. It felt realistic, including the strange dream sequences. I agree with the other reviewers about the jarring body double scenes. That didn't work for me either, although I assume it was the director's way of showing us their bodies through their own eyes and objectively.
The movie is interesting and has a few profound things to say. It's worth about 7.5. Also, be sure to read the review here by David_Frames. It hits the nail on the head.
A few words of advice (gleaned from this movie) to anyone wishing to live out this fantasy. Pick your island mate with great care. Find someone your own age. Only go with someone you're sexually attracted to, and make sure he or she feels the same way. If you go with someone you're not attracted to, be prepared to put out. For god's sake, go on a few holidays together first. And not just for a week. Try to find someone who is self-reliant and handy, a natural explorer and a hard worker. Avoid picking a user or a loser. Go into therapy for a few months beforehand to make sure you understand your relationship and psychological issues, because they will all arise to bite you in the ass once your diversions are gone. Try to find out what you are really looking for. Take survival and first aid courses first. Study the ecosystem. Bring lots of medicine. Don't do anything that will get you injured.
If you're very lucky, you'll find someone who looks like Amanda Donohue when she was 24. The nudity in the film wasn't gratuitous though because it was essential for understanding Gerald's frustration. However, I can see why some might think it overdone.
And if you're very lucky, you'll end up with an island like Tuin (filmed in the Seychelles). The director does his best to show us how this island was perfect for Lucy.
The problem for Gerald is that the island is not what Gerald really wanted. In a nutshell, Lucy is into the island, Gerald is into Lucy. It's essentially a "Huis Clos" drama. Like a paradise island, a sexy young lover is what many older men want as the door is gently closing. It's a powerful fantasy that even in fruition proves fruitless.
This movie is under-rated here on IMDb.com. I can think of several reasons for that. I didn't like the complicated Oliver Reed character at all. Oliver Reed was the right casting choice, because I can imagine Oliver Reed being a little like Gerald Kingsley.
This movie worked for me. It felt realistic, including the strange dream sequences. I agree with the other reviewers about the jarring body double scenes. That didn't work for me either, although I assume it was the director's way of showing us their bodies through their own eyes and objectively.
The movie is interesting and has a few profound things to say. It's worth about 7.5. Also, be sure to read the review here by David_Frames. It hits the nail on the head.