Share

Okja

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Okja. (Photo: AP)
Okja. (Photo: AP)

MOVIE:

Okja

WHERE TO WATCH:

Netflix

OUR RATING:

4/5 Stars

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

The first note I made while watching Netflix's newly released action-adventure film, was: "humans are shit". 

After watching Okja, you'll agree. 

Although a fictional creature, this super-pig represents so much more. 

As our greed grows, so do our appetites for bigger and better things. True to our egotistic nature it’s all about us and we won’t let anything stand in the way of getting what we want. 

Directed by the highly acclaimed Bong Joon-ho the film beautifully captures the ugly side of humanity. The hero versus villain setup might be as old as time itself but Okja is a breath of fresh air. 

Featuring a South Korean female lead and a cast of Hollywood supporting actors, like Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, this film effortlessly confirms that Netflix doesn’t need a big screen to put out a well-crafted product.

Okja, a large pig-hippo hybrid, is big enough that it doesn’t need a silver screen to make the viewer fall madly in love with it. 

The video-streaming giant has successfully managed to make us care for a CG creature without any of the bells and whistles that comes with watching a movie in the cinema. 

Ahn Seo-hyun gives a powerhouse performance in her role as Mija, the young farmgirl who takes care of Okja. 

Tilda Swinton as Lucy Mirando is a pure joy to watch. The details in her characters – from their little mannerisms to quirky personalities – are subtle yet so powerful. In short: Swinton is absolutely perfect. 

Add to the mix the eccentric zoologist and TV personality Dr. Johnny Wilcox, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, and you have magic happening on the screen in front of you. Gyllenhaal takes a giant leap with this wacky character but once again just proves that he has the acting chops to take on any role. He’s insane, annoying, unrecognisable and absolutely brilliant. 

If you had any doubts that an online streaming site could put out a decent movie – consider those doubts squashed. 

Sidenote: Make sure to watch until the very end after the credits have rolled. It will give you some hope. 

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE