I'm generally not given to undue praise for films, even ones that touch on some of guilty my pleasures (such as realistic aliens, sci-fi, alternate history, apocalyptic themes, etc.). That said, DISTRICT 9 ROCKED.Simply put, it had an original, compelling story, top notch special effects and a generous scoop of real-life allegory. If you haven't heard of the film, its set an alternate present (or close to the present day) in a post-Apartheid South Africa. In 1982, a huge alien spacecraft parked above Johannesburg. Since that time over a million aliens have lived in a township just outside the city.
The Apartheid symbolism is not light or subtle. "Prauns" as the vaguely insectoid aliens are pejoratively called are viewed paternally as an inferior race. In the human mind, they are lazy and directionless and a Haliburton-like corporation called "M.N.U." is responsible for them. One part United Nations, one part Blackwater the M.N.U. enforces the segregation, care and feeding of the aliens. The film starts on the eve of a massive move of the entire alien population to a concentration camp-like settlement, of course for their own protection.
The assault rifle-carrying paternalism is what I imagine vintage Apartheid must have been like. Racist urban planning with an iron fist... Even more interesting, I've read that the film was being made at the height of South Africa's recent anti-foreigner violence.
From there, the film accelerates into a frantic chase story, while never relenting its examination of race, "us," and "them." Great!
B.
I agree with your review. What an excellent film. It was so well done, it has been a long time since I watched a movie and thought "how did they do that??" It could have in the wrong hands been yet another star of the week helmed 'blockbuster' but it shows that when someone has faith in a director and a good story, you don't need to have it be 'Hollywood' to be great.
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