Okja
2017 · Directed by Bong Joon Ho
Original language: English
- adventure
- drama
- science fiction
- action
The story
A young girl named Mija risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.
What it’s like
Bright, unstable daylight and wide Cinemascope frames that swing between rural Korean hillsides, sunlit green mountain valleys, and the grimy neon sprawl of New York, with the camera often moving handheld and close to a young girl's face. The palette runs from sun-washed greens and dusty browns to sickly fluorescent whites in the corporate and slaughterhouse scenes, and the digital image feels glossy and slightly overexposed, the giant creature rendered with a soft, expressive CGI that makes it feel warm and real. The score is playful and orchestral, lurching into pulsing electronic tension when the story turns grim. Vibe: bittersweet, absurd, and anxious, with a streak of satirical bite. Pacing is brisk and tonally restless, shifting between slapstick chase set-pieces and quiet tenderness. Intensity: moderate, with brief but disturbing violence, animal cruelty and slaughterhouse imagery that is upsetting rather than gory, plus some profanity and a few sharp, sudden jolts. The emotional arc follows a stubborn, loyal child learning how far she will go for a friend who cannot speak for itself. Best for viewers who want an offbeat adventure with a conscience, and who can handle its uneasy, animal-welfare themes.
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