"Okja" is a heart-pounding action-adventure film written and directed by Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho himself. This one-of-a-kind movie is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Bong Joon-ho flexes his ability to tell unusual story with "Okja". Probably his most defiant movie yet, this movie outright condemns the soulless killing of animals and the inherent characteristic of capitalism as an economic system.
"Okja" is best described as a timeless story for everybody. We, as consumers, are dependent on large corporations to help us served foods on our table. Some of us worked for these corporations, while a few of us owned them. But whatever role we play, we can never discount the dark reality behind the foods we eat.
It's easy to invite sympathy towards people but to animals, not so much. A part of the reason why is because we don't see ourselves in them. We see ourselves as a superior animal. This preconceived notion that humans are above animals leads to not just abuse but also injustice. This is why I find "Okja" as a powerful film and criticism because it makes us rethink our relationship with nature and ourselves.
A part of "Okja" success is the performance of Swinton, Gyllenhaal, Dano, and Ahn. Swinton perfectly captured the peculiarity and inexorability needed to summon uneasiness towards the audience. Like Swinton, Gyllenhaal has no problem portraying bizarre and challenging roles. The quirky zoologist is almost an anti-thesis to Ahn's quiet yet strong-willed performance. Dano, on the other hand, kind looks affirms the audience that peace and compassion can be achieved. But, Bong Joon-ho's sense of humor wouldn't let his characters kneel on the set conventions. Throughout the movie, he would twist and turn these characters around to show us that there we are all susceptible to change.
If there is one movie that'll continue to be relevant for a long time, that will be "Okja". The movie addresses capitalism and our problematic food system. It also illustrates the uphill battle we have to overcome to admonished this injustice. In essence, "Okja" is a film that everyone should see.
4/5
