A fascinating film that centers around a group of aliens that has landed in our world and inhabits a small area of South Africa, District 9 has a mockumentary feel with an interesting story to tell.
There is a common saying that basically says there are no new ideas. Mark Twain is credited with the concept – that all of the ideas have been thought of and are basically resorted to create something somewhat unique – but I think arguments can be made on both sides of that debate. In my opinion, it is mostly about context because I think fresh ideas come about all of the time.
District 9 is set in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1982, an alien ship arrived and hovered over the city. A team of investigators eventually entered the ship, and discovered over a million starving aliens. These insect-like creatures were relocated to an area called District 9 and left there to be observed and studied. Over the decades, though, it became a slum, and the aliens, often referred to by the derogatory name, “Prawns,” are now mostly seen as a nuisance and beings that waste resources.
This film is distinctive in many ways, one of which being that the film is generally set as a documentary. From beginning to end, it is essentially a news story with interviews, telling the story of the aliens, as well as a manhunt, and the mystery that still surrounds it.
There are a lot of underlying themes within this movie, including the mistreatment of the aliens, whether the aliens could have contributed more had anyone tried to work with them, and the manipulative narratives that the government releases.
As you watch the movie, you feel the clear association with how it relates to our own world and politics, no matter what administration is in charge. The higher-ups have a very specific goal during the manhunt, and they will release whatever public information they have to in order to achieve their objective. It is a clear reminder that this kind of thing happens everywhere, and you never know who the victims of the situation might be.
District 9 is one of those films where you benefit from not knowing too much before you watch, but it is a fascinatingly different movie than anything you’ve seen before. Many of the themes are among those you’ve watched – love, devotion, loyalty, curiosity, fear, disappointment – but they are presented in such a different fashion that you can’t quite compare it to anything else. With Peter Jackson as a producer and very few familiar faces, just give it a go. In cinema, something different is always worth watching.
Runtime: 112 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English, Afrikaans, and alien language with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Available: Free on PlutoTV, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
There is a common saying that basically says there are no new ideas. Mark Twain is credited with the concept – that all of the ideas have been thought of and are basically resorted to create something somewhat unique – but I think arguments can be made on both sides of that debate. In my opinion, it is mostly about context because I think fresh ideas come about all of the time.
