Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)
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The story
Set in the South Pacific in 1897, the story begins when a ship finds a young boy and a girl, Lilli, who are cast off onto a tropical island after a crew infection. Under the guidance of a woman named Sarah, the children are raised in isolation, learning to survive and grow up in a remote paradise. As they reach adolescence, the two children must navigate the physical and emotional changes of maturity while remaining hidden from the outside world, eventually facing the complexities of their bond as they grow into young adults in their secluded sanctuary.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1897, a ship finds a young boy, Richard, and a girl, Lilli, who are cast off onto a tropical island in the South Pacific. They are raised by a woman named Sarah who dies of pneumonia when they are children. Growing up in isolation, the two children become teenagers and eventually fall in love, making a commitment to one another. Their peace is interrupted when a ship with a captain and his daughter, Sylvia, arrives. While Sylvia tries to seduce Richard, he remains loyal to Lilli. After a confrontation with a sailor named Quinlan, who tries to harm Lilli, Richard defeats him. Lilli reveals she is pregnant, and the two decide to remain on the island to raise their child, choosing their secluded life over the complexities of civilization.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- William A. Graham
- Writers
- Leslie Stevens · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Milla Jovovich · Lilli Hargrave; Brian Krause · Richard Lestrange Jr.
- Genres
- romantic adventure; coming-of-age
- Themes
- Coming-of-age; Isolation; Nature vs. Civilization
- Tone and mood
- Romantic; Adventure
- Premise and plot tags
- Survival; Island; Romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Blue Lagoon (1908 novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole)
- Franchise connections
- The Blue Lagoon
- Reception
- The film was a box-office bomb and was panned by critics, receiving a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 0% · scale: percentage; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Worst Picture · Golden Raspberry Awards · 1991 · Nominee; Worst Director · Golden Raspberry Awards · 1991 · Nominee; Worst New Star · Golden Raspberry Awards · 1991 · Nominee; Worst New Star · Golden Raspberry Awards · 1991 · Nominee; Worst Screenplay · Golden Raspberry Awards · 1991 · Nominee; Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture · Young Artist Awards · Nominee
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on location in Australia and Taveuni, Fiji.; The film's score was composed by Basil Poledouris.; The screenplay incorporated elements from several previous novels and a 1949 film adaptation.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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