After a lot of anticipation, Okja finally arrives on Netflix this week.
There was so much talk about this movie leading up to the release on the streaming service, such as when it was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
When the “Netflix” logo appeared at the top of the film, the audience booed, with many seeing the service as another blow against the way traditional cinema works.
However, once the movie was finished, the audience had clearly changed their minds, as it was greeted with a four minute standing ovation.
From the director of the epic-but-painfully-underseen likes of Snowpiercer and The Host, Okja has a crazy strong cast featuring the likes of Tilda Swinton, Jake Gylenhaal, Paul Dano, Lily Collins and loads more besides.
It tells the story of a young girl who befriends a new creature that has been breed purely for the purposes of human consumption.
When the creature – Okja – is kidnapped by an evil corportation, the young girl goes off on a journey that will take her half way around the world in order to save her best friend.
Clip via Netflix
In the lead-up to the film’s Netflix release on Wed 28 June, the positive reviews have been pouring in:
“This is a film that deserves to stand proudly on its own as one of this year’s cinematic gems, and another stellar entry into Bong Joon-Ho’s unique catalogue of work.” – The Independent
“A pot-bellied fable unlike anything else you’ll see this year. Not since Babe has an adorable porker inspired such peculiar joy or unexpected heartache.” – Empire
“Okja combines the holistic man-and-nature themes of a Studio Ghibli animation with the alarming food-industry revelations of Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret.” – Mark Kermode
“Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, Okja is a story about love, resistance, bullies, and how we treat the most defenseless on the planet.” – Reel Talk
“Okja offers escapism with a generous dose of politics that makes it fascinating, funky, and fabulous.” – Pajiba
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