Directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis, Cast Away is a cult classic cinema. Starring Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, and Nick Searcy, the movie became an instant hit upon it’s release on 2000. Tom Hanks smeared everyone’s heart with his outstanding performance which got him nominated for Best Actor in a leading role in the 73rd Academy Awards.
The Plot
A FedEx executive Chuck Noland is a very successful employee. He is extremely busy with his work which often hinders his relationship with his long-term girlfriend Kelly Frears. Just before Christmas, Chuck had to leave for Malaysia due to some urgent work. Before leaving, he proposed to Kelly.
However, during his journey, a violent storm engulfs the ocean. His plane crashes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Chuck somehow manages to stay afloat amidst the violent storm. The next day, Chuck finds himself on an uninhabited island. Soon, he finds FedEx packages floating in the ocean. He begins to collect them. He also stumbles upon one of his crewmates. With a heavy heart, Chuck gives him a burial.
This is how Chuck’s journey began on an island, isolated from the rest of the world. He spends days trying to learn how to fend food for himself. After a series of failed effort, he manages to ignite fire. Soon, out of isolation, he starts opening the FedEx packages. He finds a Volleyball and draws a face on him with his blood and begins to call him Wilson.
Chuck spends four years on the island. There were times when he tried hanging himself. He wept profusely, he screamed, ravaged the island but nothing helped him. Finally, he decides to build a raft for himself and go back to habitation at any cost. Unfortunately, during his return venture, Wilson floats away from him. He tries hard to grasp the ball but nothing works. The pain, the trauma, the bereavement that Chuck felt on losing his only friend broke millions of audience’s hearts.
Finally, a ship stumbles onto him and takes him back. On returning, Chuck has a hard time adjusting to reality. He also finds out that his soulmate Kelly is married to someone else. The movie ends with Chuck carrying one unopened parcel to its actual owner. The parcel gave him a sense of purpose amidst desolation.
Is Cast Away based on a true story?
It might come as a surprise but Cast Away is absolutely fictional. However, the screenwriter William Broyles Jr. spent several days alone stranded in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez to understand the depth of the character. He even befriended a washed-up Wilson-brand volleyball, which served as an inspiration and ended up in the movie.
There are several stories about real life incidents where people spent years alone on an island. One such person is Leendert Hasenbosch who was punished for being homosexual. In 1725, he was left on Ascension Island where he spent six months. He drank his own urine to survive but unfortunately, he passed away.
The touches of reality
FedEx didn’t mind their free promotion as they garnered a lot of fame. Monuriki Island, the filming spot of Cast Away, became a famous tourist attraction in the following years. However, one shouldn’t overlook the hidden inner meanings of the movie. Cast Away shows how human beings struggle to survive when they’re actually faced with challenging situation. No amount of money, or fame, or power can save you when you don’t have the basic necessities to survive in an unknown island.
The Silent Observer. 