A social misfit, Jong-du, is released from jail and goes on life like nothing happened. Jong-du... is mentally not all there. He's that awkward person that you tend to try to stay away from. He doesn't really think the way everybody else thinks. His family doesn't like him, or knows what to do with him. He just can't seem to act 'normal'. One day he comes across Gong-ju Han, a young woman disabled with cerebral palsy. Jong-du finds Gong-ju interesting, like no one he has seen. They becoming closer and you start to ask yourself; Can people with these conditions be together in this world? Will people allow it?

Beware... I blabber on in this review. I apologize, but I just could not help it!

First thing first. This movie can be uncomfortable to watch. It's not a good romantic Valentine's day rental at all. But, it is an amazing movie that I wish everyone could see at least once. Oasis brings up a topic that is not normally brought up in movies. Can two people with these handicaps have true love? Jong-du's handicapped mind is trapped in an adult body, and Gong-ju's adult mind is trapped in a handicapped body. But these people are still human beings. They have the same human needs, and to deny them this is a crime. Bah, I'm getting all preachy, let me talk about the movie itself.

I haven't seen any other movie by Chang-dong Lee, but what he did with this movie reminds me a lot of Ki-duk Kim. The movie just follows along these people everyday life, but these certain people have a different life than most. At the beginning Jong-du isn't a very likeable person. He's one of those weird people you try to avoid. He has no concept of thinking of others, he doesn't quite grasp the difference between right and wrong. He's just mentally immature. He constantly makes his family's life hell, he orders food and eats it without having any method of payment, he steals, he's just obnoxious. But... he is the only person who views Gong-ju as what she is, a human being like everyone else. She likes things, she has a favorite color, she has a favorite food, there are things she doesn't like! This is something we all can overlook. Even Gong-ju's family has. They dumped her in this small grungy apartment and pay neighbors to come over everyday to feed her. Oasis shows many gritty sides of humanity, but it also shows beauty. Gong-ju's reactions to little things, like a light reflecting from a mirror, or just the sky, brings tears to my eye. When with Jong-du she begins to imagine herself like a normal human being, who can talk and walk around like nothing is wrong. Every time I had to grab a tissue.

I did mention Oasis was uncomfortable, and it is. You go through so many emotions watching this movie. It made me emotionally confused, you could say. I will spoil this: there is a rape and a sex scene. Both made me feel very uncomfortable, and I wanted to warn you. Hopefully if you expect it you won't stop the movie at the rape scene, because this movie needs to be seen.

One thing so amazing about Oasis is the actors, and So-ri Moon (Gong-ju) outshines them all. For most of the movie I really believed she had CP. When she first stood up and acted normal in her own imagination I freaked. Surely that's not the same girl! Man, she was amazing. Gyung-gu Sol (Jong-du) was perfect for the role. He didn't seem to be acting, that personality seemed so real and I don't mean that as an insult. He made the character. From his body posture to the way he acts just felt so genuine.

Chang-dong Lee did a wonderful job directing, and the score was perfect. He really was able to portray the message he was trying to get across. I was definitely impressed.

Oasis is an amazing film, and like I said before, should be seen by everyone. It is controversial, and many people might be to bothered by it to watch it. I know I felt very uncomfortable sometimes, and even fast-fowarded through most of the sex scene. But I so recommend sticking through it, at least so it will stick into your mind. I also recommend some tissues. I still get teary-eyed just thinking about certain scenes.

What I liked: So-ri Moon's amazing acting, the dove/mirror scene when you first meet Gong-ju, the part in the subway when Gong-ju starts singing to Jong-du (gets me every time)

What I didn't like: Nothing was bad about the film, but I so hated Gong-ju's family and wanted to kick their ass, which you were supposed to.

What I've learned: Eating a big block of Tofu alone does not look appetizing, never leave your house key outside under a plant (already knew that, but damn, isn't that one of the first place people look ANYWAY?), you should treat everyone like human beings, because that's what we all are, no matter if they look/act/think differently than you (knew that too).

Oasis is available to buy at the following vendors: