This is my third film blog with Park Eun-bin as the leading lady. She has had two successful series in her history and this one will add to her stardom. She can sing and she can take on versatile roles. In "Castaway Diva" she plays a teenager, Seo Mok-ha who wins an audition for a singer, but soon after is stranded on an island for 15 years before being found.
At the start we soon learn about two abusive fathers. Seo Mok-ha is an aspiring singer who beats his daughter. One brother helps Seo Mok-ha prepare for an audition and the other brother is supportive. Their father beats both of them and his wife.
One momentous night is when Seo Mok-ha is set to go to Seoul as the top singer in a contest finds herself swept away and ends up on an deserted island and has to survive 15 years of isolation. From time to time the film uses flashbacks to highlight some of her experiences.
In the meantime the two brothers and their mother escape with the help of a government employee. They all end up changing their names and starting a new life. The police officer father is obsessed with tracking them down. He is bent on revenge for his humiliation and proves he has not learned a lesson by beating one of his sons.
By coincidence (or as they claim fate) the two brothers find Seo Mok-ha and bring her back where she hooks up with an old singing star and tries to launch her career. There is jealousy and corporate shenanigans as well as cat and mouse play with the abusive father.
The main character is mostly very cheerful and philosophical. You just know there will be a happy ending, but along the way are a few tense moments.
Aside from listening to some beautiful music the film will be a pleasure to watch (except for tense moments). Here are some of cast and crew that made it an enjoyable experience.
Choong Hwan Oh was the director with 7 film credits.
Park Hye-ryeon was the writer with 9 film credits.
Park Eun-bin plays the lead role, Seo Mok-Ha She started out as a child actress. She now has 24 film credits including "The King's Affection" (2021)and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022). A popular award winner. See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/08/extraordinary-attorney-woo.html
Lee Re plays the younger version of Seo-Mok ha. She has 17 film credits. One of the most impressive was as a young child who violently sexually attached, "Hope" (2013. Other films included "How to Steal a Dog" (2013) and "Memories of Alhambra" (2018). She also did dubbing for a Japanese animated film. See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/11/hope-gut-wrenching-film-from-korea.html
Kim Hyo-Jin played Yoon Ran-ju, the former star who helps Seo Mok-ha with her career. She started as a teen model and has been involved in theater. She has 25 film credits.
Chae Jong-hyeop played Bo-geol, one of the brothers. He has 10 film credits including "See you in my 19th Life" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/08/see-you-in-my-19th-life.html
Hak-Yeon Cha played the other brother Woo-hak. He is actually better known by his stage name of N H was a member of boy band VIXX and went on to be a radio host. Winner of several dancing awards. He has 23 film credits.
Kim Joo-hun played a talent executive. He has been in theater and is in demand for tv. commercials. He has 24 film credits including "Train to Busan" (2016), "Designated Survivor: 60 Days" (2019), "It's OKay Not to be Okay" (2020), "Juvenile Justice" (2022) and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html
Seo Jung-yeon plays the boys mother. She has 43 film credits including "Live up to Your Name" (2017) "Black Dog" (2019) and "Trolley" She also plays in "My Demon" just starting the series on Netflix. See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/the-trolley.html
Available subtitled on Netflix. If you are a Eun-bin Park fan you will be amazed at the width of her talent. If you like music it will be a pleasure for you.
As usual I have bolded films that I have seen for the first mention.
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