 |
| Sharlto Copely tries to get a Prawn to sign some forms |
In 2009, the release of District
9 was met with little opposition, being praised by fans and critics alike.
This was particularly impressive considering it was first feature-length film
of director Neill Blomkamp who had a modest budget that had to be contended
with. Yet still very little is said about District
9 despite its unlikely success.
Set in
modern day Johannesburg, the film is a blatant allegory of Apartheid present in
the South Africa only decades before. When an alien ship crashes in the early
1980s, the local government of Johannesburg is quickly forced to take action. But
creating homes for these new found visitors proves to be troublesome and the
government chooses instead to create an impromptu ghetto with no intensions of
improvement. Impoverished, sick and unwanted, the aliens are shunned by the
human population referring to them in the derogatory term prawns (due to their
appearance.)
 |
| A piece of the prawns futuristic technologies |
 |
| One of the films Apartheid signs |
However, the brunt of the story follows clueless
civil servant Wikus van de Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley), who through a
twist of fate becomes infected a starts to become a prawn. Searching for a
cure, Wikus comes to see the prawns in a more sympathetic light all the while
learning the details of how the government attempts to exploit the
extraterrestrials and their futuristic technologies.
The movie sets itself up in the
form of a part mockumentry style, where those close to Wikus reveal valuable
information and perspective to the story.
This makes the movie seem all the more realistic well revealing
information in a seemingly unartifial way. Despite the fantastical circumstances
of the film because of its setup it still seems plausible.
District 9 is a good film with heavy themes. The seldom used style
of mockumentry proves useful and refreshing, separating it from countless other
action flicks. From this film Neill Blomkamp proves that sci-fi can be done in
a refined way.
This sounds really interesting. I never knew it was kind of like a documentary. I just assumed it was some crazy action/sci-fi flick, but you seem to say that it's much more than that. I'm now interested in seeing it to explore its social commentary....not just for the aliens:)
ReplyDeleteI love mockumentary style!! I find it always makes movies more enganging. I also am not one for Sci-fi flicks but this one seems to be action packed aswell which would make it more intersesting.
ReplyDelete