District 9 Poster from Filmofilia.com
Neil Blomkamp’s debut feature film is a smashing success. At a cost $30 Million to make, the film earned more on its first weekend ($37 Million) and to date has earned over $115 Million world-wide. The movie stands as s testament to the quality of “undiscovered” talent that exists in the film industry and speaks directly to the reality that a “megastar” is not needed to tell or sell a feature film.
Blomkamp’s tale is a serious look at Apartheid and the plight of refugees as seen through the lens of cricket-men from outer space. The “Prawns”, as the aliens are called, are a mirror of a majority modern human society. The millions of aliens who come on the mother-ship are sickly, starving, malnourished lot; they are largely devoid of the intelligence that has them cast across the stars. Humanity takes a stand for these visitors and provides them with food and shelter on the ground beneath their hovering ship. This ground is a slum in Johannesburg known as District 9 (a most direct reference to the actual District 6 of Apartheid infamy).
What follows is a steady moving story that speaks to the problems of encampment and segregation; governmental mistakes, multi-national corporate greed, and the age old human fear of the unfamiliar. It is masterfully put together and beautifully layered. A more perfect and gritty sci-fi film has not been produced in years. Does the story pull punches? Yes. Does this story have plausibility holes? Certainly. Does the story have pieces that don’t quite fit snug? Absolutely. But what sci-fi set in a “current day” scenario doesn’t? If you can see past the flaws (and what geek can’t) you should find a thoughtful and introspective story that asks a serious question about man’s inhumanity to man.
*** More, with spoilers, below the fold. ***
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