A young girl risks everything to prevent a powerful, multinational company from kidnapping her best friend – a fascinating beast named Okja.
Tagline: A Netflix Original Film
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Seo-hyun Ahn
Runtime: 2 hours | Release Date: 28, June 2017 | Language: English | Trigger Warning: Animal cruelty | Country: South Korea | Rating: 5 out of 5
I’ve been a fan of Korean film since high school; however, my tastes typically lean towards films like OldBoy and Train to Busan. Okja is the total opposite of these stories. This is a David vs. Goliath tale of unconditional love and hope. I will tell you now it is five stars from start to finish and you just might be a heartless creature if you don’t feel your eyes go a little wet while watching it.
A teenage girl, Mija, raised by her farmer grandfather lives in a remote mountainous region of South Korea. They have cared for a new breed of super pig from the Mirando Corporation since Mija was four years old. The super pig is named is Okja. When Okja wins the grand prize for the best of breed, she is taken by Mirando. Mija sets herself on a mission to buy back her best friend, only to get caught between the company and an organization that rescues animals. As it turns out, Mirando is not the environmentally friendly, animal loving company it claims to be. The story that unfolds is riveting and heart breaking.
I loved this film. I don’t care if it’s not horror. My entire being was invested in this story that is so well told with acting that is top notch from an impressive cast. Jake Gyllenhaal provides some comic relief playing a character that is outside of his usual beef cake roles. Tilda Swinton is phenomenal (what’s new). I don’t think she has ever done a bad film, and this includes Doctor Strange. We can fight about that later if you disagree. The star is Seo-hyun Ahn, the woman that plays Mija. Her character doesn’t smile when told, or play dress up, or get caught up in the flattery of the Mirando corporation. She is a determined female fighting for what she cares about. Seo-hyun Ahn is perfection in this role.
The CGI is next level, which makes Okja look very real. The creators decided to give her humanish characteristics that will tug on your heart strings even more than the sweet relationship between Mija and Okja.
The message of the story is pretty hard to miss. You are slapped in the face with a moral tale, however, it isn’t one I minded, because I agreed with it. I try to respect cultures, yet I couldn’t help but to think about the annual dog festival that happens in China and the work that is going on to stop it. If you are sensitive to the treatment of animals, then watch this with care even though there are no real animals involved.
I hope you will watch this and enjoy it as much as I did!
V. Castro is a Mexican American writer living in London. She is the author of Maria The Wanted and the Legacy of The Keepers and the forthcoming erotic novella, The Erotic Modern Life of Malinalli The Vampire. When not caring for her children she is writing, exploring London and watching way too much telly. www.vvcastro.com
I have this in my Que and keep meaning to watch it. A nit hesitant about the animal cruelty but can take it if it’s is essential to the story. I’ll go ahead and watch it.