Netflix Sci-Fi Adventure Is The Best Satire You’ll See In Years
Okja was and remains a unique, memorable Netflix original, and that is saying something, considering that other titles on the platform include Squid Game and Stranger Things. The movie masterfully blends sci-adventure goodness with biting, surprisingly engaging satire. But that’s what one expects from the beloved director Bong Joon-ho, whose film, despite its family-friendly aesthetic, deftly navigates the admittedly complex world of corporate greed, animal rights, and the food industry.
The ultimate narrative is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking; think Pixar meets Parasite.
Genetically Modified Super-Pig
The film relates the tale of young Mija, played by Ahn Seo-hyun, an adolescent launched on a daring mission to rescue her best friend, a genetically modified super-pig, Okja. Said super-hog is in the dastardly clutches of the all-powerful Mirando Corporation, a shadowy, massively influential entity headed by an eccentric (to put it mildly), morally ambiguous CEO, Lucy Mirando, portrayed by Tilda Swinton.
Unsurprisingly, Mirando harbors sinister plans for the poor pig, considering the animal little more than a prospective piggy bank.
Not A Feel-Good Flick
Before you file this movie under the category of feel-good flick ideal for kids, consider that it’s endowed with an uncommonly sharp satirical edge. As much as in the rest of his filmography, Bong Joon-ho utilized Okja as a vehicle to seamlessly blend genres.
Comedy, sci-fi, drama, and even bits of horror fuse masterfully, eventuating a merciless critique of the heartless modern food industry alongside the difficult ethical dilemmas it poses. For example, the movie does not pull punches when it comes to portraying the Mirando Corporation as a kind of larger-than-life, slightly surreal Monsanto (obviously, the film’s name references this real-life corporate agro-business behemoth).
Scathing Social Commentary
The scathing commentary, detailing unflinchingly the distance companies go to reap profit, regardless of ethics or humanity, strikes a nerve. Through the endlessly talented Swinton, Lucy Mirando embodies this theme wonderfully: she’s Okja’s superb, loathsome, fascinating villain, a latter day Cruella de Vil.
And the movie’s satire does not halt there, but includes the world of activism in its sights. Indeed, the Animal Liberation Front endures as much satire as the corporate world; led by the earnest yet flawed Jay, played by Paul Dano, the group employs misguided and extreme measures, reflecting this much disapproved tendency of activist groups.
The Animal Liberation Front Called Into Question
In all fairness, while Joon-ho doesn’t shy away from giving ALF their due, the filmmaker also documents their noble intentions, layered atop their questionable tactics. Genuine complexity results, which enriches the film overall.
Perhaps most memorably, the movie is more than mere critique; it is a deeply emotional saga of friendship and loyalty. The incredibly resonant bond between Mija and Okja is the beating heart of the film, one that strikingly elicits much feels.
Stream Okja On Netflix Today
Acting as a sharp contrast to the cold, calculated Mirando Corp, the relationship conveys genuine innocence and purity–however surrounded by widespread corruption and exploitation.
Visually, too, the film delivers, particularly when it comes to the CGI used to engender the super-pig. While CGI can sometimes flop, it excels here, eventuating a believable and endearing creature. Particularly, the film’s cinematography—especially the scene’s location in the lush highlands of South Korea or the teeming NYC streets—supplies welcome visual appeal.
For a winsome, emotionally gripping, and impressively smart satire, stream Okja on Netflix today.
