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Okja

Modern Masters

Bong joon-ho / Feature Narrative / United States of America, South Korea / 2017 / Colour
In English, Korean, Spanish / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Action, Drama, Science Fiction, Adventure
N/A
Rated: Mature subject matter which may not be suitable for minors. Parental guidance is strongly advised.Individuals under the age of 15 are not admitted into cinemas.

Synopsis

With ‘Okja’, director Bong Joon-ho continues the scathing critique of contemporary globalised society that led to the immense popularity of his previous films like ‘The Host’ (2006) and ‘Snowpiercer’ (2013). Here, the story of a little girl and her (gargantuan, genetically designed) pet pig immerses the viewer in what seems like a pleasant fairy tale – but just as we become comfortable, we are plunged into an intricate, extremely dark world of unbridled capitalism, flagrant corporate irresponsibility, slavery, and the wilful depletion of the world’s natural resources ¬¬– all packaged up in an ego-driven personal vendetta.

As the epicentre of the greed that is destroying the Earth, human dignity, and any sense of justice offered by the social contract, Tilda Swinton provides an unnervingly canny performance – her Lucy Mirando is a twisted, roiling, yet delicate personality made up of the injury of past slights, a blinding need to succeed, and a narcissism that has no bounds, all these nuances somehow contained in a caricature-like being who responds to publicity like a moth racing toward a candle flame.

Swinton’s role – and the film overall – offer a complexity to be contemplated long after viewing the film; its indictment of favouring avarice over compassion is a heady, topical, and necessary message in today’s world.

About the Director

Bong Joon-ho was born in Daegu, South Korea, in 1969 and studied Filmmaking at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. He came to international attention with his second feature-length film ‘Memories of Murder’ in 2003; his third feature, ‘The Host’ (2006), was a massive hit worldwide. His other films include ‘Mother’ (2009), ‘Snowpiercer’ (2013) and ‘Haemoo’ (2014).

Credits

Director

Bong joon-ho

Screenwriter

Bong joon-ho, Jon Ronson

Producer

Bong joon-ho, Dooho Choi, Dede Gardner, Lewis Taewan Kim, Jeremy Kleiner, Ted Sarandos, Seo Woo-sik

Editor

Yang Jin-mo

Music

Jung Jae-il

Cinematographer

Darius Khondji

Production Company

Kate Street Picture Company, Lewis Pictures, Plan B Entertainment

Distributor

Netflix

Cast

Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ahn Seo-hyun, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun

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