An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
- Awards
- 26 wins & 3 nominations
Lee Jong-woo
- Soldier Kim
- (as Jong-woo Lee)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOfficial submission of South Korea for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 75th Academy Awards in 2003.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2005)
Featured review
Masterwork from Lee Chang-Dong
"Oasis" is the story of the relationship of a man imprisoned by his mind with a woman imprisoned by her body. That they establish a relationship comes as much because of their handicaps as in spite of them.
I knew before seeing the film that Moon So-ri was an able-bodied actress. As a result, at first I wasn't convinced she was playing someone with cerebral palsy. But Lee Chang-dong does a brilliant thing. He films several scenes that become the imaginings and fantasies of Gong-ju, Moon's character, as an able-bodied woman. This had the effect on me of seeing Gong-ju as disabled. And it spells out clearly that cerebral palsy is a physical condition not a mental one.
Sol Kyung-gu as Jong-du is perfect. I've been describing Jong-du as "simple-minded" to others but that doesn't pinpoint his mental condition. I might say he is carefree but it's not just an attitude; he is carefree to the point of mental illness. His condition makes him act both bad (he's been in prison three times) and good (he absolutely sees right through Gong-ju's handicap and truly comes to care for her). While Gong-ju is frustrated over her condition and how others use her it, Jong-du appears so utterly accepting of his fate that he doesn't even defend himself. I can't stop thinking about how Mr. Sol has played this interesting character.
Both Gong-ju's and Jong-du's families scorn and pity their conditions. But watch how they also come to exploit them as well.
I highly recommend this film.
I knew before seeing the film that Moon So-ri was an able-bodied actress. As a result, at first I wasn't convinced she was playing someone with cerebral palsy. But Lee Chang-dong does a brilliant thing. He films several scenes that become the imaginings and fantasies of Gong-ju, Moon's character, as an able-bodied woman. This had the effect on me of seeing Gong-ju as disabled. And it spells out clearly that cerebral palsy is a physical condition not a mental one.
Sol Kyung-gu as Jong-du is perfect. I've been describing Jong-du as "simple-minded" to others but that doesn't pinpoint his mental condition. I might say he is carefree but it's not just an attitude; he is carefree to the point of mental illness. His condition makes him act both bad (he's been in prison three times) and good (he absolutely sees right through Gong-ju's handicap and truly comes to care for her). While Gong-ju is frustrated over her condition and how others use her it, Jong-du appears so utterly accepting of his fate that he doesn't even defend himself. I can't stop thinking about how Mr. Sol has played this interesting character.
Both Gong-ju's and Jong-du's families scorn and pity their conditions. But watch how they also come to exploit them as well.
I highly recommend this film.
helpful•473
- vvanpo
- Jun 12, 2003
- How long is Oasis?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,304
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $6,485
- May 9, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $6,697,101
- Runtime2 hours 13 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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