Bong Joon Ho on Netflix’s ‘Okja’

A few months ago, BBC iPlayer released Carnage, the world’s first vegan sci-fi satire and the feature-length debut of Simon Amstell, who was both the director and the screenwriter.

Last month, Netflix released Okja by Korean director Bong Joon Ho. The movie portrays the heartwarming fight of Okja, a giant genetically modified pig produced as a potential solution to global starvation, and her best friend, Mija.

Feeding and taking care of Okja up on the isolated mountains of South Kore for a decade, Mija is unaware that their friendship has a time stamp. Lucy, the CEO of Mirando Corporation, has Okja, which is chosen the most well-fed and best pig among the breed, brought to New York for her merciless plans. Aiming to rescue her best friend and bring her home, Mija puts up a fight against various capitalist and consumerist groups who race each other to control Okja’s destiny. Winning out over them, Mija reminds us that the strong connection between humankind and animals is much more powerful than the vile teeth hidden behind capitalism’s friendly mask.

Not unlike Carnage, Okja uses the traps of sci-fi to ask unnerving questions about where our food comes from.

Featuring Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano and Seo-Hyun Ahn as the lead, the movie is a contender for Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.

Tilda Swinton as Lucy Mirando and An Seo Hyun as Mija in OKJA.

An Seo Hyun as Mija in OKJA.

Okja