3 Reasons Why Okja Is A Must See Movie

Photo via OKJA Official Facebook page (Screenshot)

Official movie poster of Okja

Okja is the second movie directed by Korean director Bong Joon Ho, produced by Netflix together with Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Lewis Pictures and Kate Street Picture Company. The movie has been released via Netflix’ streaming service on June 28.

Prior to its release however, the film made quite a controversy at the Cannes Film Festival after French theater owners did not like the idea that online streaming would happen first before theater showings. The film was disqualified from the competition. According to The Verge, instead of shutting down Netflix’s movie-making machine, the whole controversy gave it more exposure and publicity.

3 Reasons Why Okja Is A Must See

1. The film is weird but good. The story centers around a young farm girl Mija and a super-pig named Okja, who was genetically engineered by a multinational food company to be the next big thing in food production. Mija’s quest to save Okja from the clutches of the maniacal Lucy Mirando is the central conflict of the film.

This, plus the film’s impressive design and visual effects makes it a “glorious family adventure” according to The Guardian, as well as a “miracle of imagination and technique” as called by the New York Times. If you love multi-genre films, Okja will fit right in because it is a crazy mix of melodrama, coming of age, action, science fiction and fantasy.

2. The cast – especially Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anh Seo Hyun. Okja is by no means a cheap movie to produce. Netflix after assembled A-list stars for its cast, including Tilda Swinton as the head of Mirando Corporation. Swinton gets to play one of her weirdest roles yet as well as work with director Bong Joon Ho. According to her, “he likes to be inspired and he’s not jaded as an artist. He loves to work and is fed by working with people. It’s a great environment to be in.”

Swinton also had a hand in choosing the young Korean actress Anh Seo Hyun for the role. The director told Philippine Star, “Swinton thought that “Anh Seo Hyun’s face had a certain power or strength to it. She was reminded of certain classical actresses in the golden era of Hollywood.”

3. It has the makings of an epic film. The Verge called it an “epic” that is both “sardonic and sincere.” It lets the audience see the cruel treatment of animals while at the same time the very real bond of Mija and the creature Okja. If you watch it, you will be party to the change that may be coming in movie-making soon as envisioned by Netflix.