Okja (2017)
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A girl's journey to rescue her genetically modified super pig from a massive meat corporation becomes a public battle for animal rights.
The story
In 2017, a teenage girl named Mija lives in the South Korean mountains with her grandfather and their super pig, Okja. The two share a deep bond until they are visited by a representative from the Mirando Corporation, who declares Okja the best of their genetically modified 'super pig' specimens. The corporation intends to take Okja to New York City. Devastated, Mija travels to Seoul to find her, only to see Okja being loaded onto a truck. She begins a desperate journey to rescue the animal, eventually crossing paths with the Animal Liberation Front, a group of activists who help her navigate the dangers of the corporate machine.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2007, the Mirando Corporation began breeding 'super pigs.' By 2017, Mija and her grandfather's beloved Okja are selected as the best specimen to be taken to New York. Mija follows Okja's transport and is joined by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Due to a mistranslation by the ALF member K, the group believes Mija wants to stay with them while they attempt to document the corporation's mistreatment of animals. In New York, Mija is forced to participate in a staged reunion with Okja, while the pig is secretly subjected to laboratory testing. During a public parade, the truth of Okja's mistreatment is revealed, causing the public to turn against the corporation. Following a series of events where the ALF members are captured, Mija and a few others reach a processing plant. Mija manages to stop a worker from slaughtering Okja by showing a photo of their bond. She eventually trades a gold figurine to the corporation's owner, Nancy, to secure Okja's freedom. The film ends with Mija, Okja, and a new piglet back in the mountains. A post-credits scene shows the ALF members being released and planning further disruptions.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- South Korea; United States
- Original languages
- English; Korean
- Directors
- Bong Joon Ho
- Writers
- Bong Joon Ho · screenplay; Jon Ronson · screenplay; Bong Joon Ho · story
- Cast and characters
- Ahn Seo-hyun · Mija; Tilda Swinton · Lucy Mirando, Nancy Mirando; Paul Dano · Jay; Byun Hee-bong · Hee Bong; Yoon Je-moon · Mundo Park; Choi Woo-shik · Kim Woo-shik; Steven Yeun · K; Lily Collins · Red
- Genres
- science fiction; action-adventure
- Themes
- capitalism; animal rights
- Tone and mood
- defiant; eclectic
- Setting
- South Korean mountains, Seoul, and New York City in 2017.
- Premise and plot tags
- super pig; corporate greed; animal rights
- Content notes
- animal cruelty
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was noted for its unique tone and visual style.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 87% · scale: percentage · review count: 238; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Awards and nominations
- Palme d'Or · Main competition · 2017 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD as part of The Criterion Collection in 2022.; Bong Joon Ho visited a Colorado slaughterhouse to prepare for the slaughterhouse sequence.; The film was included on The New York Times list of 'The 10 Most Influential Films of the Decade' in 2019.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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