Oasis (2002)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

This turns out to be a surprisingly difficult question to answer, especially considering that watching Oasis is a complete waste of time if the answer turns out to be "no". Obviously the producers, screen writers, actors and director are all doing their best to generate a positive response.But it is a tribute to the integrity of the story that a "yes" vote doesn't come easily. Jong-du is an ex-con with three convictions on his record. After being paroled for vehicular manslaughter, he unaccountably decides to pay his respects to the family of his victim. There he meets Gong-ju, a young woman stricken with cerebral palsy. He gives her flowers, but a follow-up visit ends disastrously in an attempted rape that is interrupted only when Gong-ju faints from horror.During this visit, Jong-du gave Gong-ju his phone number in an attempt to put her at ease, and Gong-ju eventually decides to call him. Against all expectations, they find they have a lot in common and a romance blossoms.Against this unpromising backdrop Oasis has a long uphill climb to win the audience's sympathy. It's not an easy transition. The revelation that Jong-du is innocent of manslaughter and confessed only in order to save his older brother helps. The inexcusable neglect and mistreatment of both Jong-du and Gong-ju by their families helps even more. These are two people that deserve better treatment than they are getting from their closest relatives.Oasis benefits from outstanding performances by both its stars, great directing, and a riveting screenplay. In a lot of ways it's not an easy movie to watch, but I was mesmerized by the characters coming to life before my eyes and forming a relationship that for a time provided a refuge from their bleak existence, just as an oasis in a desert provides relief from an otherwise barren landscape.

Oasis is a dark film that is not suited for everyone. It requires an open-mind and some deep thinking as well. Aside from that, the characters and their actions requires sympathy and understanding. Chong-du is a jittery, wiry man with an extremely short attention span whose level of energy sometimes borders on the psychotic. He returns home after serving a sentence for vehicular manslaughter, only to be treated with contempt by family members and ostracized by friends.The film provides the viewer a realization that even physically disabled people have their own emotions to fulfill and satisfy just like normal people. The acting in the movie was great. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver into a brilliant film like Oldboy for it lacked the requirements to become a masterpiece. But nevertheless, it is a must-see especially for people who want to understand what people with disabilities undergo through their daily lives and to realize their needs that could not be understood by normal people.

There are plenty of long drawn out comments already on the lead actors performances so I won't repeat what's been said. Yes this is an actors movie, every single actor/actress, ESPECIALLY So-ri Moon just bang out jaw dropping, completely engrossing, completely convincing acting that it's easy to get wrapped up in it. I almost want to give this movie a 10/10 just for acting alone.*****SPOILER***** However I do have some issues with the film, mainly the rape scene, that is the precedence to love between the two main characters, it is bittersweet and morbid, and DOES provoke thought. However the only thought I could have was that it was unrealistic, then again she was locked up in her apartment so... perhaps not. It was enough to jar me away from the story for quite a while. But nothing was worse than the unresolved nature of... everything, some people find that artistic and immerse... I find it a little lazy, there are several characters who have no repercussions to their actions what so ever.. and like a true Asian movie.. characters have an inability with SPEAKING. They have no qualms with insulting each other, and making a giant scene, or humiliating each other in public, but oh my.. forbid SOMEONE may speak when it really matters.. sigh.Not that "Oasis" HAD to have a happy ending.. I don't mean that in a long shot, but some "resolution" in one way or another, not just the two main characters stay quiet forever, and all the evil deeds, except Mr. Unlucky get completely swept under the rug with a fade away ending that was infuriating.

It would be nearly impossible for me to deny the true greatness of this film. There are very few films I can think of which contain so much ambition, integrity, conviction, and audacity. It is a love story of rare power, matched only by a precious few others. The concept of the film alone deserves admiration, and the execution is nearly flawless. It manages to avoid practically all the problems which could potentially occur trying to tell a story like this. In the wrong hands, this film could have either been a cloying, condescending mess, or a cruel sickening freak show. But, as is, the film does a great job of keeping a balance, never reducing itself to either, equally false, extreme. Instead the film relentlessly pursues those elusive moments of cinematic truth, and never falters. The extent to which the filmmakers (writer/director and actors alike) remain true to the characters they are portraying is amazing, never reducing them to either grotesque caricature nor helpless objects worthy only of our pity and easy, manipulative tears. Instead, the film takes a truly unflinching, yet nuanced look at mental and physical disability. When you consider that the subject of disability in cinema usually results in sterile, vapid films like "Forrest Gump" and "The Other Sister", "Oasis" is practically a miracle. At times I admit it is hard to watch, but it is honest and never at all mean-spirited. Ultimately the effect is messy, transcendent truthfulness rather than shock or unpleasantness. The only real criticism I have about the film is that I felt the occasional dream sequences were ultimately unnecessary, although for what they were they weren't bad at all, fairly well-done actually.