Day 65 Okja [2017]
Screenplay Bong Joon-ho & Jon Ronson
Director Bong
Joon-ho
Cinematography Darius
Khondji
Music Jaeil
Jung
Leads Tilda Swinton, Paul
Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ahn Seo-hyun, Giancarlo Esposito, Lily Collins
Production Plan B Entertainment, Lewis
Pictures, Kate Street Picture Company
IMDb 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes 85%
A Netflix film that was booed at Cannes. Luckily
this wasn’t due to the film’s content, but due to rules of the festival which
stated the festival’s films must be theatrically released in France (or something
along those lines). When the Netflix title was shown it was booed, although I’m
sure the crowd enjoyed the rest of the film because it is heart-warming and
relevant. It is the story of a young Korean girl, Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) and her genetically
modified cow-pig-hippo Okja. When Okja is fully grown she is taken away by the
food corporation that gave her to Mija’s family. Mija goes on a mission to save
Okja and discovers some terrible truths about the Mirando corporation. The
first praise has to go to the visual effects team who made Okja look so
incredibly realistic and giving her a real character. Darius Khondji (Se7en,
Amour, The Beach among others) can also be praised for this as he films
wide vistas of Korean country side to the bustling cityscape of New York that
CGI Okja slides into seamlessly. The acting is top notch in this too, mostly
from young Ahn Seo-hyun who gives an performance filled with exactly the
emotion you’d expect from a girl whose pet (and best friend) has been stolen
away from her with no notice. Gyllenhaal, Swinton and Dano all play their kooky
characters well too. Swinton is known for her range yes, but Gyllenhaal and
Dano prove with each film they do just how talented they both are by playing
characters I wouldn’t normally expect them to play. My favourite thing about
this film was the message behind it. I’m not a nutty vegan/vegetarian by any
means but I do believe in sustainable food sources and lack of animal cruelty. Okja
is about animal cruelty as much as it is about capitalism disguising big
business in an eco-veil. Yes, there is some cruelty, and the animal liberation
front get involved, but really it highlights the way that corporations manage
to hide their wrongdoings with publicity stunts and good advertising campaigns.
This film is funny and sad and shocking all at the same time. I’d say it was
pretty good.
Acting 3
/ 4
Writing 3
/ 4
Cinematography 3.5
/ 4
Music 2.5
/ 4
HMD
rating 3 / 4