[Review] Okja: Will Anyone Watch This Film and Stop Eating Pork?

First, I'd like to thank Netflix for arranging my early viewing of this film. Korean director Bong Joon-ho can be said to be one of the most successful Asian directors developing in Hollywood in recent years, and Hollywood has provided him with a larger platform to promote more of the values he deeply believes in. This time, Okja is no exception; almost every scene satirizes and criticizes some mainstream values of the modern world.

In terms of its plot framework, Okja is a typical "animal/alien friend rescue" movie, telling the story of Korean girl Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) who grows up with the adorable, shy super pig Okja, forming a deep bond. Later, Okja is captured by a large corporation, and Mija leaves her mountain home to rescue Okja. Previously, this type of film primarily focused on the protagonist's relationship with the animal and centered on the adventure story of rescuing the animal. However, Okja attempts to incorporate main storylines involving animal rights organizations and the struggle with large corporations, making the film seem fresher and more critical. The irony of Mija finally rescuing Okja due to capitalism is truly worth reflecting on.

Initially, I also thought Okja would be a more child-friendly, light-hearted yet touching adventure film. However, as I watched, I realized that Okja's tone and plot were darker than expected, even darker than the director's previous works, The Host and Snowpiercer. In his past two works, the director also criticized social issues like environmental pollution, capitalism, and class systems. This time, in Okja, he further criticizes modern culture such as the meat-eating culture, consumerism, and capitalism, and almost every scene has its intent. The film's most important theme is, of course, the critique of meat-eating culture. It first introduces the audience to the relationship between Mija and Okja, and through glimpses of their lives, fully displays Okja's cute, intelligent, and loyal side, making the audience fall in love with this super pig. Subsequently, the corporation captures Okja and subjects her to a series of cruel treatments, alongside scenes of people enjoying pork and sausages, criticizing the harm that consumerism and meat-eating culture inflict on animals.

What was most unexpected was the film's direct depiction in the latter part of the process of killing pigs, cattle, and other animals in real life and converting them into food products. Although there aren't many bloody scenes in the film, the settings are incredibly realistic, using special effects to kill a "living" pig on screen. If audiences truly became emotionally invested in Okja in the earlier parts of the film, they would undoubtedly find it unbearable to watch the scene where another super pig is killed in the latter part. Moreover, the final scene with Mija and Okja outside the pig farm reminded me of concentration camp scenes in some WWII films, which was deeply heartbreaking.

Although the director criticizes the greed and hypocrisy of large corporations and emphasizes animal rights through the film, he does not completely glorify the actions of animal rights organizations. In the film, the plan of the Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F.), which claims to help Mija rescue Okja, inherently requires sacrificing Okja's safety. Furthermore, a member played by Steven Yeun disregards Okja and Mija's feelings and safety in order to help the organization achieve its goals. Therefore, the film also explores whether the actions of these organizations are ethical, and whether they can sacrifice some interests or lives for a so-called noble cause.

However, because the film attempts to incorporate various elements and present complex themes within its two-hour runtime, there are rather abrupt shifts in rhythm and tone across different parts of the film, making it seem less coherent. Nevertheless, the scene where Mija and the A.L.F. rescue Okja in Seoul is both thrilling and uniquely humorous—a feat only Bong Joon-ho could achieve.

Additionally, the performances of the different actors in the film are eye-opening, especially Jake Gyllenhaal playing a TV show animal expert. His performance is the most exaggerated I've seen from him, but the plot later adds layers to this character, and his acting highlights a person who loves animals yet feels conflicted about harming them. As for Tilda Swinton, collaborating with the director for the second time, she is as excellent as ever, this time playing two distinct roles: an arrogant, hypocritical corporate CEO and a colder, more aloof individual, showing a very clear differentiation. In fact, several supporting actors in the film, such as Paul Dano as the principled A.L.F. leader and Giancarlo Esposito as a corporate executive, deliver excellent performances, and their characters have great potential, which is unfortunately limited by the film's finite runtime.

The most important character in the film is arguably the super pig, Okja. Even though her appearance isn't conventionally appealing, and she is entirely made with CG animation, the film constantly focuses on her eyes, allowing the audience to feel her emotions, sense that she is a living, breathing being, and become emotionally invested.

Despite Okja not being as brilliant as the director's previous works, I still deeply appreciate the director's intention. I have always been very concerned about environmental issues, and I understand that even if audiences grasp an environmental concept, they may not necessarily put it into practice in real life or change their living habits. Just as I stopped eating beef a year and a half ago, friends have asked me for my reasons during this time, and after hearing them, they would often say that beef is simply too irresistible and difficult to give up. Therefore, I don't expect audiences to stop eating pork after watching Okja, but at the very least, people will understand the entire process and reflect on their own habits, realizing the choices they have. On this point, I believe the director has achieved his goal. Okja premiered globally on Netflix today at 11 PM, and everyone should definitely watch it to understand the message the director wishes to convey.