OKJA (2017)

A HEARTWARMING MASTERPIECE

Okja is one of Bong Joon-Ho’s masterpieces. The movie is an action-adventure Korean film. It is based on a young girl and her friendship with a mutant pig named ‘Okja’. The film is shot in South Korea and some parts of the United States. The film competed for Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2017. The film was made with a budget of $50 million. The film did not do well at the box office and earned only about $2 million but was critically acclaimed. The rationale behind it is the central theme of the movie. It is one of those movies that is likable only to people with broadened perceptions. Here are some reasons why you would love this movie:

1. The plot:

The plot of the movie is unique. There have been many ‘Save animals’ oriented movies in the run. But none of them have been prospective. The movie stands on a prospective concept and yet the director made it believable. The story is about a Big corporate company owned by Lucy Mirando and their experiments with meat. They create mutant pigs that are assigned to farmers in different countries for a limited period. The pig with Mija, the protagonist of the movie, is the main character. The movie revolves around the rescue of Okja by Mija. The story takes a few twists and turns. Though, it does not lose the grasp of the original theme. The cinematography is terrific. It is surreal at some points. This movie is a piece where the director has juxtaposed certain elements and they have come out to be brilliant.

2. The performance:

Let us talk about the Antagonist first. Tilda Swinton as Lucy Mirando in Okja was as magnificent as the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia. She was fun to watch. Her acting was so real it would actually make the audience hate her character. The protagonist was the young girl, Mija, an incredible performer. Her eyes did half of the work. Sometimes, words fall short in front of what expressions do. Most of her conversations with Okja were telepathic and still understandable. She was stunning throughout the film. Paul Dano was the one who connected to the audience the most. His character is someone one cannot question. He is kind and ambitious. He helps in saving Okja from the hungry capitalist company.

All of the characters represent exactly what different communities in the future would be.

3. The emotions:

The movie targets certain emotions. It makes us feel guilty, fearful, sad, happy, and excited at the same time. There are a few scenes that take a twisted road to our brain. While there are few scenes that go straight to our heart. Humans and animals share a special bond. The director knows the emotion a pet lover experiences. He has tried to put all of those in the move. Someone with a love for animals will be crying by the end of the movie.

4. The climax:

The climax of the movie is overwhelming. Even the pre-climax scenes give you a boost of adrenaline. The end of the movie is heartwarming. It is logical and yet completes the imagination of the director. The whole movie shows different kinds of people and the climax does not change it. The characters are not progressive but stagnant. The movie is different from others because of this reason. The idea is not to change what is bad but to preserve what is good.

The end takeaway is to be good and protect your goods. Okja is a feel-good movie definitely recommended for your weekend. While watching it, the audience must keep it in mind to have a broader perspective. Cinema is an art. And art has no limits.

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