At first lockdown might have seemed like a holiday to some. No school, no work and no alarm in the morning. But as the weeks go by, we are starting to realise how hard it is to isolate from the outside world, especially if we want to stay sane. So if the lockdown is getting the better of you, here are five Isolation Movies to distract you.
1. Adrift
This 2018 American romantic drama directed by Baltasar Kormakur stars Sam Claflin and Shailene Woodley. The movie focuses on Tami and Richard and their love story. After meeting and falling in love in Tahiti, they decide to sail the ocean together in what seems like a perfect adventure. But things don’t go as planned and Tami has to take charge when their yacht is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with nobody in sight. The movie is based on the inspiring true story of Tami Oldham Ashcraft, who experienced being adrift at sea for more than a month. The movie reminds us how, especially in the worst of times, we sometimes need the strength to trust ourselves more than anybody else if we want to pull through.
2. Room
Room is a 2015 independent drama directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. The movie is about a woman who was kidnapped by a man at the age of 17 and has been held captive ever since. She is forced to live in a shed with only a tiny window and gives birth to a son called Jack, who is five-years-old at the start of the film. Jack has no concept of the outside world, and the film centres on the determination of his mother to keep him safe and positive. Every day in “the room” is a chance for this courageous mother to help her son learn and play like a normal kid. Room reminds us of the importance of family and how bonds can help us carry on even in inhumane circumstances.
3. The Shining
The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrik, is a classic film that deserves to be seen more than once. Based on one of Stephen King’s most famous novels, it stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall as the two main characters. The movie follows the story of Jack Torrance and his family, as they decide to spend the winter looking after the empty Overlook Hotel in the wilds of Colorado. Being alone for so many months takes its toll on Jack, leading to dangerous consequences. The movie shows how isolation can make us go mad. Watch it with your family to remind yourself – and them – how well you are getting through lockdown isolation compared to Jack Nicholson!
4. Castaway
Do you love inspiring stories, and Tom Hanks? Then this is the right movie to watch during the lockdown! This 2000 American survival drama, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a masterpiece. It follows the life of Chuck Noland, played by Tom Thanks, who manages to survive a plane crash only to find himself on a deserted island. As the days and months go by, he learns how to survive, though without giving up his goal of finding a way back home. This movie is an inspiration and Tom Hanks’ acting is simply extraordinary. You will follow his time on the island with anticipation and empathy, realising how even in difficult situations we can all survive and find a reason to live on.
5. Wild
Based on a true story, this 2014 biographical adventure drama starring Reese Witherspoon is one of the best movies of the last decade. In the movie Cheryl, played by Witherspoon, decides to hike 1,100 km of the well-known Pacific Crest Trail all by herself. The adventure is her way of finding meaning in her life after a series of bad experiences that include a divorce and her mother’s death. Her journey is filled with obstacles and setbacks, but over mile after mile she learns to cope and carry on. This movie shows how isolation can be a good thing, by helping us heal from pain from the past.