“Okja” is an adventure, satire and drama that instills strong emotional reactions and is directed by Bong Joon-ho, one of South Korea’s most prestigious directors. “Okja” is also about the story of friendship and the inner moral dilemmas one must face as a consequence of personal beliefs conflicting with the interests of industry.
In the near future, the multi-national Mirando Corporation takes another stab at improving its public image. In a bold move, the CEO, Lucy Mirando, announces the discovery of a new species of animal the ‘super pig’ that will help with food shortages and assist in the mitigation of climate change. Allegedly, these pigs are ‘naturally occurring’; however, they are genetically engineered.
Sent hoping that in 10 years the best pig will be a winner in the company’s competition, Mirando sends 26 super piglets leave to farms all over the world. One of these piglets, Okja, is raised in the South Korean mountains by a young girl Mija and her grandfather. For the next 10 years, Mija and Okja live in the forest and develop a super strong, almost unbreakable bond. Okja is no ordinary pig. She is very smart, gentle and affectionate as well as a cross between a hippo and a dog. With all the love and companionship in the world, Okja and Mija’s bond goes beyond pet and owner — they are family.
Things change though, when Mirando Corporation takes Okja to New York for the company’s big celebration and public display. Mija is heartbroken, and in a brave step, goes after her friend. Here, Mija is helped by ALF, the Animal Liberation Front, a group of activists intending to reveal the truth about Mirando to the public.
In the beginning, Mija learns the troubling truths of the corporate jungle, the super pig project, and the plight of animals and the exploitation of the animals, the film charts the Mija’s unyielding attempts to retrieve Okja. During this time, Mija is beset by the might of the arms, and the Mixed Media’s moral dilemmas and manipulation that would prospectively cause a fatal chain reaction. Okja might the explore the most problematic aspects of a narrative still preserves the most the stomach of a viewer. It is still a story imbued with the raw, unrelenting and pure love, the story of a girl and her pet.
Cast & Crew
Director and Co-writer: Bong Joon-ho
Director of Okja Bong Joon-ho, is a master and genre bending and award winning director of Parasite. His transitioned films masterfully blend drama, action and satire the guide and disrupt emotional arcs.
Writer: Bong Joon-ho & Jon Ronson
Co writer of the screenplay, British journalist and screenwriter Jon Ronson, is a writer of satire and absurd fiction and the socio-political and corporate hypocrisy and media critique.
Ahn Seo-hyun as Mija
As Mija, the young, South Korean actress delivers a powerful performance. Ahn’s portrayal is grounded and courageous, giving the film its emotional heft. Ahn’s performing instinct manages to tether the screenplay’s flights of fancy, and the narrative remains credible and human.
Tilda Swinton as Lucy and Nancy Mirando
Tilda Swinton plays twin sisters Lucy and Nancy, both high-ranking members of the Mirando Corporation, and performs a corporate identity silo as each. Swinton’s Lucy is the friendly, progressive corporate facade, while Nancy is the frigid, profit-driven sister. Swinton’s performance is both eccentric and chilling, serving as a corporate branding satire run amok.
Jake Gyllenhaal as Dr. Johnny Wilcox
Jake Gyllenhaal plays an over-the-top television personality and zoologist who is entwined in the Mirando Corporation’s campaign and whose character is a critique of media complicity in corporate messaging. Gyllenhaal’s performance adds a surreal flavor to the film, though it received mixed reactions for its intensity.
Paul Dano as Jay (Leader of ALF)
Paul Dano honors Jay’s character as leader of the ALF with profound empathy and strong convictions. Although Jay’s leadership style is radical and compassionate, he strives to embody the moral compass of the narrative, albeit not without moral inconsistencies.
Steven Yeun as K
Steven Yeun plays K, a member of the ALF and a Korean American. K’s position grants him access to the Mija and the English-speaking protesters, and his role as a translator and guide pivots the group’s trust and communication dynamics, complicating the mission.
The rest of the primary cast, including Devon Bostick and Lily Collins, work collectively as ALF members and corporate antagonists to present the ethical conundrum as a disunified moral struggle.
Response and Reception
Okja brings Bong Joon-ho a 7.3/10 IMDb rating. Joon-ho’s social critiques are bold yet nuanced to the pleasure of critics, stripping them of heavy-handed elements to convey the message.
Critics acknowledged that the film’s fanciful or surreal moments are woven into grounded emotional narratives. The relationship between Mija and Okja was noted as the emotional core of the film and as the focal point that helped steer audience engagement on the food and animal welfare narrative.
Reviews also praised the film for its technical execution. Okja’s CGI was so sophisticated that audience members felt emotionally linked to the character as if she were a human being. Darius Khondji’s cinematography added to the film’s technical execution as he captured and contrasted the Korean countryside’s natural beauty with the stark, brutal, industrial farming landscape.
Though Okja was a Netflix release, it also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was highly received and granted a four-minute standing ovation. However, its Netflix involvement sparked controversy, with debates on cinema versus streaming. The film, however, still stands as a pioneering film for storytelling and a bridge between Eastern and Western cinema.
Conclusion
Okja is not simply a movie about a girl and her pet. It is a film that compels its audience to re-evaluate the frameworks that govern their lives. It combines heartfelt storytelling with pointed satire to provide a critique that is a profound meditation on environmentalism and capitalism and the interplay of these two systems with human choice. Through the perspective of a young girl and her special friend, Bong Joon-ho challenges the audience to see a world in which compassion is the strongest and most positive force of all.
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