Save One's Bacon

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyun, Steven Yeun, Jake Gyllenhaal

Off of the back of seeing Baby Driver twice this week before this film's release on Netflix, I tried to be optimistic. Watching another film straight after seeing an amazing one at that can be hard, as it may be more difficult to appreciate having another one so good leave an amazing taste in your mouth so to say. But I very much liked Okja none the less. I've been impressed with Netflix's movies lately, and this one is no different - this is an extremely cinematic movie that feels like it belongs in cinemas, but it was a treat for myself to watch on Netflix, as I'm sure it will be for you aswell. It brings about some interesting questions and debates, and tells the heartwarming story of a young girl and her best friend. To some it up with one word? Touching.

Mija (Seo-hyun) lives in the mountains of South Korea with her genetically created super pig, Okja. They're best friends, nothing can tear them apart - until one day, the company that created Okja come back to reclaim her for the purpose of butchering her and selling her as meat along with the rest of her species. Mija goes to her rescue, with the help of an animal liberation group lead by Jay (Dano) who aim to stop the company and its flashy CEO Lucy Mirando (Swinton) and bring Okja back home.

Firstly, Seo-hyun is great. I've said it before that child actors can be poor in my opinion most of the time, but her portrayal of Mija is inspiring and moving. Her relationship with Okja is powerful and the resilience in her character and acting pays off very well. There are some great performances from Swinton who plays twin characters yet again (this seems to be the norm with her now) and Dano plays an incredible role as well. The acting is brilliant all round, but one problem I did have was with Gyllenhaal's character, Dr Johnny Wilcox. He's one of my most favourite actors but his role in this and how he pulled it off bewildered me. He's very comical compared to the rest of the characters and doesn't feel like he belongs in this world. Sure there's a giant super pig walking around but it's much more believable than this wacky role he plays... it's just odd.

The music in this film is fantastic. It fits every scene well and really reflects what goes on in each scene with every shot - you'll know what I mean when you see it. There are scenes when music isn't playing that still astounded me. The best scenes of the film are at the beginning when Mija and Okja are playing in the mountains. The music is minimal or not even there at all, and it really creates an impactful atmosphere between her and her beloved friend. Joon-ho's direction really stands out during scenes like this. The colour palette and lighting is also something to comment on, as again - it reflects the mood in every scene and provides a lot of emotion, and I think that's what Joon-ho does best.

Well, that and the message this film communicates. It challenges the morals of anyone, whether you're a meat eater or a vegetarian/animal rights supporter. You'll feel bad if you're a lover of meat, as I did, I felt awful and the film really provoked my emotions. If you're the latter, the film still pokes holes in how many animal activists and their methods are unorthodox or what extents they'll go to to make sure their voices are heard. At the end of the day, the film is about a girl wanting to live in peace with her friend, and these two sides get her caught up in the battlefield. It's very well told and if it doesn't make you well up at all, I'd be surprised.

I feel like I've seen this type of film quite a lot. So there is a lot I've seen before but it's still a worthwhile watch. It has enough in it to do some different things and if you have Netflix, I'd suggest giving it a watch if you can't manage the cinema this week because Okja is a strong pick for this month in film. It's an emotional yet fun ride that'll leave a warm feeling inside and as I mentioned, it will be a touching experience.

The Good

- Seo-hyun and her characters relationship with Okja

- Colour and lighting 

- Sound and also its absence is a highlight

- An emotional and interesting message 

The Bad

- Gyllenhaal's performance doesn't fit at all

8/10