The saddest scene isn't what you think.
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siray — 10 years ago(July 16, 2015 05:42 AM)
I've suffered from depression and thoughts of suicide for 20 years or more now
sorry to hear that,I myself was depressed for over 2 years(suicidal for 6 months).Listen to Speak to Me - Pink Floyd
'I've been mad for f^cking years,absolutely years'
http://lookpic.com/O/i2/1150/pAtNivve.gif -
danwiild — 10 years ago(July 24, 2015 05:36 PM)
I suggest you re-watch the scene where he talks with his friend about how he couldn't even commit suicide, and how he realised then that he had no option but to keep breathing, even though he had no hope left.
I say this as I am in exactly the same boat as you. -
Jasons_Born — 10 years ago(August 16, 2015 09:23 PM)
I like your observation, pclk; I hadn't picked up on that touching moment in my past viewings. Just never saw it! However, while your interpretation of the scene seems to be correct in that Chuck is essentially "giving up," it might not be as depressing as you think.
In my search for many answers and explanations about the story, I came across this guy's mini-analysis of what he thinks the story is all about underneath. You don't have to get caught up in all of his details here, or even agree, but I think he makes a really good point; not about that specific moment (the oar, which he doesn't mention directly), but about the third act in general, about how Chuck is basically succumbing to the fact that he is NOT in control of everything, and must instead accept it all, whatever happens, and basically "just go with it."
So, when he is pushing the oar away, I think while yes the event certainly (masquerades) on the surface as suicide (giving UP), he is actually "letting go" and giving IN to just allowing whatever is going to happen to happen. He lost Wilson, and is now just floating around the middle of the ocean with nobody to even talk to (not even a volleyball), so all he can do is just lay back and let the wind take him where it wants to take him. Where could he possibly row to now that he has rowed past all the huge challenging coastal waves. All he can do now is float around, directionless. He looks sad because he knows that there is nothing more that he can do and he will most likely die out there. And he probably will. But then, suddenly, just like "the tide came in and gave him a sail" to build the raft (the porta potty), now, by complete random chance, the "tide" has brought in this massive ocean liner which would save his life.
Here is the link of that guy's review (don't worry, it's not long)
http://www.imdb.com/board/10162222/reviews-1055
Also, I agree what one of the posters said before me, about watching the scene with Chuck & his friend near the very end of the movie (near a fireplace I think); it really hammers home the message about Chuck relinquishing trying to control everything and instead just going where "the wind" takes him. It had a really optimistic spark behind it too, in Chuck's final words in the scene: "because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide will bring." Beautiful. -
Little_Tyke — 10 years ago(August 24, 2015 09:31 AM)
That scene with the oars was pretty sad, but the scene that moved me the most was his hand weakly outstretching towards the freighter. In real life the chance of someone on the bridge spotting such a tiny object would be close to zero. I really thought he was doomed.
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user-651-437126 — 10 years ago(March 04, 2016 11:34 PM)
I agree that the scene where Chuck finally gave up was a really sad scene.
But I recommend Grave of the Fireflies(1988) for you. There are like 5 or more scenes that are
waaaaay
sadder than the scene you mentioned in CA, in my very own opinion. -
EtherealElements — 9 years ago(October 11, 2016 04:29 PM)
That's a pretty strange comparison to make, no offense I hope. Cast Away and Grave of the Fireflies are two very different films and are barely comparable. Besides I am of the unpopular opinion that CA was sadder than Grave of the Fireflies, and I think quite a few other films have been sadder than it in my opinion.
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AmBa2012 — 9 years ago(May 22, 2016 12:24 AM)
I agree it is a sad scene, but for me is when he has made it back to civilisation and he is now sitting by the fire with his friend having a drink and talking about losing Kelly all over again and having ice in his glass and that he has to keep breathing in and out.
I think that is even more heartbreaking. The emotions that he would have had seeing Kelly and getting back home only to have it all ripped out from under him AGAIN sobs. -
olsontd-1 — 9 years ago(August 28, 2016 02:54 PM)
And regarding the soliloquy by the fireplace to his friend: it is such a continuous shot, with the symbolism of his going around in circles and facing challenges that seem to be, in one moment, as challenging has having been Cast Away, but in the next moment, the prelude to a New Beginning. And, cinematically, the scene is mesmerizing. We are sitting in the chair with him, having seen what he has been through.
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kinetic_kid — 9 years ago(September 04, 2016 04:52 PM)
Most people would probably say that the saddest scene in the movie is when Kelly chases him in the rain and he loses her all over again.
But I agree with the main post in this thread. For me the saddest part was easily when he realizes that he has to abandon his attempt to save Wilson and instead saves himself. When he shouts out that main line "I'm sorry Wilson! Wilson I'm sorry!" it totally breaks your heart.
The next scene where he's sailing on the raft and crying his eyes out over it surely gets me. I've welled up several times during that scene, with the sad music and all. Gets me every time.
And yes, dropping the oars and basically accepting his fate was his way of admitting that he did all that he could do. He would have either died of exposure or drowned once the raft fell apart. Fortunately for him he was rescued before either one happened.
But in the final scene when he is driving on his new journey in life he has another Wilson with him as the symbol of what he had been through and what lies ahead. And I agree with Tom Hanks when he was asked what he thought Chuck did when standing at the crossroads at the end: "He went back and made babies with that woman," that sexy redhead. Wish she was in more of the movie or there was a sequel about something totally different.
KK
