Desi LaPoole
A&E Editor
Okja has been one of the summer’s best movies from Netflix. How could it not be? The film follows Okja, a massive clumsy animal somewhat reminiscent of Dumbo. She’s gentle, brave and fiercely loyal to her caretaker, Mija. For ten years, Mija and Okja lived on a quiet farm in the South Korean mountains with her grandfather and a few chickens. However, when a family-run multinational company takes Okja aiming to exploit her as a food source, Mija sets out on a rescue mission to save her friend.
Okja is a new take on the classic child and pet story trope. It shows the strong bond Mija and Okja share while setting itself apart from other similar films such as Old Yeller. Living alone in the mountains with only her grandfather, Mija’s relationship with Okja is deeper than if she were just a pet.
The first fifteen minutes of the film set up their relationship as they run around the South Korean mountains together. Through their exploration of the woods, the film shows that they trust each other as one would trust their own family member. Mija and Okja’s bond is a familial one that even the audience can feel. Their bond carries us through the heartbreak, longing and joy the pair feels throughout the twists and turns of the story.
Okja shows its brilliance in the development of its characters. Each person on screen expresses a fully realized three-dimensional character. They have their own motivations, short-comings and unique personalities making them believable and relatable. Lucy Mirando, the CEO and figurehead of the Mirando Corporation is hell bent on rebranding her family’s company. She comes from a long legacy of Mirandos regarded as ruthless businessmen and even states that both her father and grandfather were horrible men. Rather than making her a flat villain with some ill-conceived plan of taking over the world, the film takes the time to reveal Lucy’s goals and aspirations of making the loathed company into a household name, and her fears and anxieties surrounding it. Even though she is the antagonist, she’s a character you can understand and even sympathize with. From Mija’s grandfather to the rag-tag group of heroes, the characters are great.
The film aims for more than entertainment. Underneath the heart racing action sequences and comedic dialogue, it raises an unsettling question we already face today: how do we feed seven billion people? With the human population steadily rising, world hunger is becoming an increasing issue. Mirando’s goal in using Okja as a food source aims to solve this problem, but at what cost? The question that stays with you throughout the film asks, “What will it take to feed humanity?” Okja’s premise is based on our reality and gives a glance at the direction we might go to solve this issue, which gives it a much more immersive experience.
Most importantly, Okja is just a beautiful film. With amazing visuals, a great soundtrack and seamless storytelling, it’s a movie everyone should watch.
