Cast Away is a 2000 adventure drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The story centers on Chuck Noland, a systems engineer for the company FedEx who, during a plane trip, suffers an accident and ends up being stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Without communication with the outside world and with limited resources, Chuck must learn to survive alone, facing challenges such as the search for food, water and shelter. The film follows his fight for survival, as well as his loneliness and the psychological impact caused by the situation.
In addition to Tom HanksCast Away cast Helen Hunt as Chuck's girlfriend Kelly Frears and Nick Searcy as Chuck's best friend and co-worker Stan. The film was highly praised for Hanks' acting and Zemeckis' directing, as well as its realistic approach to desert island survival. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Drama.
Get to know the facts behind Cast Away, here are 5 fascinating facts about the film that you probably didn't know.
Based on Real Facts
The film's story was inspired by a real case of a man who was stranded on a desert island in the Pacific for four years. Screenwriter William Broyles Jr. interviewed the man for more details and inspiration for the film.
The Weight of Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks weighs 87 kg at the beginning of Cast Away, while at the end he weighs only 63 kg. To achieve this effect, the actor had to lose a lot of weight in a relatively short period of time. He accomplished this feat with a strict diet and lots of exercise.
Wilson
The Wilson volleyball, who becomes one of the most iconic characters in the film, was created especially for the film. The production team wanted a ball that was easily recognizable and could be manipulated easily by the actor. The ball was named after the company that produced it.
Special effects
The scene where Tom Hanks performs makeshift surgery on himself was so realistic that many viewers had a hard time watching it. To achieve this effect, the special effects team created a realistic prosthetic that looked like a real human leg.
awards
Cast Away was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2001, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks. Although it didn't win in those categories, the film did take home the award for Best Special Effects. The film was also a box office success, grossing over US$ 400 million worldwide.
