Okja - movie review
Okja
Plot: Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-Hyun
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Certificate: 15 (strong language)
Runtime: 1hr 58 mins
Release Date: Wednesday 28th June 2017
After Snowpiercer, it seemed fairly certain that director Bong Joon-ho probably won't make a film as creative and original than that. Then along came Okja. Arguably, a near impossible film to market to a large audience, Okja takes place in present day but poses a hypothetical scenario of what if, like crops, we could genetically modify and in turn, create an animal itself for the purpose of mass consumption. Through the work of Tilda Swinton's company, Mirando, a group of super pigs are created and distributed across the globes to various farmers in the hope of cultivating and taking care of them. Then, in ten years time, the most impressive pig of them all will be showcased in New York City to kick off the the Mirando promotional campaign. That's the world Okja is set in as well as a bunch of ethical issues being raised alongside. And somehow, through all of that corporate management, trade deals and elements you usually find in a National Geographic documentary, we are treated to an undeniable sense of heart.
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| She was so unkind to Okja's hayfever. |
Okja is remarkably unique. You will categorically not find a film like it, not just on Netflix, but ever made. It varies in genres and tones but whereas most filmmakers would struggle to balance those shifts and result in an incredibly unbalanced experience, this isn't the case. Fortunately, with Joon-ho at the helm, he navigates us through this journey expertly and with ease. By breaking the film down into its three component acts, each of them have a key significance and individuality. The first, apart from setting the stage and giving the audience some much needed exposition, provides the introduction of Okja (a super pig) and his owner/friend, Mija, played by newcomer Ahn Seo-Hyun. Their bond is what carries this film through many dark moments and thanks to Seo-Hyun's endearing performance and the fantastic realisation of Okja herself, becomes a true highlight in a film that is packed with memorable events. The two of them also share a very kindred and childish humour. In an early scene, we see the power that can be expelled from Okja's behind and for what is essentially a cheap fart gag, it was used in an inventive and therefore effective manner. What can I say? Farts are funny. As for what happens to Okja, that's when the film takes a dark turn from a seemingly innocent homage to films like E.T. and The Iron Giant to a full blown horror movie. It then mediates a cat and mouse game between Mirando, Mija, and a group of radical activists before it eventually comes full circle back to horror with respectful shades of horrific events along the lines of The Holocaust appearing now and then. There is no denying that Okja is certainly a wild ride of emotions and it shouldn't be surprising that the varying tones will put a few off, as will its uniqueness. Okja is weird and proud and wears that on its shoulder for the entirety. Once again, this is all because of Bong Joon-ho. He may not always make the easiest of films to watch, nor the best (shocker - I wasn't a fan of Snowpiercer) but there's no denying that he has skill behind the lens. Pairing up with cinematographer, Darius Khondji, Joon-ho has made a beautiful film as the landscapes of rural South Korea, Seoul and then New York City are shot with such grace and care. The only struggle that Joon-ho and his team run into was the pace, especially in the first act. It was enjoyable to watch Okja and Mija's relationship initially but it did go on for too long. There was a thrilling rescue slap-bang in the middle that added a jolt of excitement but then, as soon as that concluded, it returned to a mildly uneventful, slightly plodding sequence of events that continue to sell the heartfelt bond between Mija and her super pig. I was already sold a few minutes in. Twenty minutes later, it gradually became monotonous. Fortunately, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared and he served as a kick up the bum that the film desperately needed. From that point on, pace was never once again an issue.
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| Thumbs up if you wish you could eat Okja... |
FACT: Okja's face design was modelled after a manatee.
One of my favourite aspects that Joon-ho implemented in his previous feature, Snowpiercer, was his ability to conjure great performances out of an extensive cast. Thankfully, he manages to excel in the same respect for Okja. With a star studded cast behind him, there isn't a performance that is any less than good. Ahn Seo-Hyun, who makes her feature film debut here, is remarkable. She gives a very understated and heart-wrenching performance as she crosses countries in the hope of doing one thing and one thing only, saving her pig. She has no other greater plans in rescuing other super pigs from the wrath of Mirando nor side with Paul Dano and his group of non-violent terrorists. In a cast full of terrific actors, she stands out as giving the most normal and professional of the bunch. On the complete opposite side of the scale is Jake Gyllenhaal who, giving his best Steve Irwin on acid impression, takes his exuberant character to eleven on a scale of ten and never lets go. He is undeniably going over-the-top but that suits the situation of his character. He is the former face of the Mirando corporation and still intends to live life in the spotlight, even if it means the mistreatment of animals. That's where Paul Dano and his team come into the picture. Dano is slowly but surely becoming one of my favourite actors working today with Swiss Army Man and now Okja under his filmography belt. Dano is wonderfully able to give a very controlled and quiet performance but dominate every scene he's in. The scenes in which he's calming Mija, chatting with his fellow group members or clashing with Steven Yeun are some of the best this film has to offer.
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| Someone's been let loose with PowerPoint. |
The only performer that didn't entirely work for me was, surprisingly, Tilda Swinton. She gives two different performances and one is given far more screen time than the other. The thing that makes Tilda Swinton stand out more than most other actresses is her extreme characterisation abilities. Unfortunately, the character she's saddled with for most of Okja, I thought, was fairly safe and didn't appeal to Swinton's strengths. It was only when her second character came into the fray that I found Swinton to truly hit her stride but even then, that character hardly featured that much. All in all though, Okja is not a movie that gives flashy performances. Sure, Gyllenhaal is giving it his all and then some and Dano and Seo-Hyun are brilliantly reserved but in reality, Okja prides itself on giving the audience something to think about long after you sign out of your Netflix account. It probes the audience into thinking about capitalist greed, corporate lies and the mistreatment of animals that many of us simply overlook. The final scenes of Okja are harrowing and greatly contrast its happy-go-lucky opening but Joon-ho intended that to happen to give you a shock to your system. Many people have wondered if the film is a pro-Vegan story and lambasts those that eat meat. That is entirely untrue. I never got that from the film at all. It made me think about where it comes from but apart from displaying flaws in both sides of the argument (Mirando and the Activists), I never felt pressure to ditch meat. I love burgers too much.
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| World's Strangest Bus Ride. |
Wonderfully wacky, heartfelt and thought-provoking, Okja is definitely not for all but so long as you go in with an open mind and allow yourself to learn and experience what Joon-ho wants you to, I can imagine you at least appreciating the filmmaking. As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed my time watching this and recommend it to those wanting to find something on Netflix that is fresh, original and will make you think as you watch a gigantic pig poo in a lake.
My Verdict: 8/10
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