1982, Johannesburg, South Africa. A huge alien ship hovers motionless over the city. After a couple of months, a team discovers a million of famished extraterrestrials in the ship. The “prawns,” as they are derogatorily called, are given refuge in District 9, a camp outside Johannesburg.
Now, after twenty years, it is time to relocate the growing numbers of aliens to District 10. Multinational United (MNU), a private military company, is hired to do the task; Wikus van de Merwe, an employee, will serve illegal eviction notices. When he raids Christopher Johnson's shack, he finds a mysterious canister and sprays liquid on his face. He starts feeling sick and passes out at home. At the hospital, he discovers that one of his arms has now turned into an alien's. Taken by force to the MNU headquarters, he is subjected to physical torture. When scientists want to vivisect him, he escapes and hides in District 9 with Christopher. He learns that the liquid is causing the mutation. If Christopher recovers it, he will be able to reactivate the ship and cure Wikus. After almost risking his life trying to buy weapons from the local Nigerian gang, Wikus helps the alien break into MNU and find the canister containing the liquid.
But the alien is outraged by what he saw there; he must help his own kind before anything else. Wikus tries to take off with the command module in Christopher’s basement but crashes it. MNU soldiers take them prisoner. As they attempt to exit District 9, the Nigerian gang ambushes them.
Christopher’s son is still in the downed command module and activates the ship as well as a robot in the Nigerian leader’s shack that kills all the members of the gang. Wikus takes control of the robot while soldiers capture Christopher. He cannot stand seeing the alien being brutalized and decides to help him escape to the command module. He kills all the soldiers but one, Venter. Badly injured, he expects to die, when several aliens kill and eat Venter to protect him. The ship leaves Earth and Johannesburg's residents celebrate. The movie ends with interviews and news broadcasts.
For the last 20 years, global perceptions have changed. The world can no longer ignore some of the most intolerable episodes in recent history. Whether it was the Holocaust during World War II, Apartheid in South Africa, the Stolen Generations in Australia, or the Residential School System in Canada, "District 9" brings them all together. In 110 minutes, humanity is exposed in all the bare truth of its inhumanity, forcing viewers to watch the direct results of apartheid, racism and xenophobia. Wikus van de Merwe goes through every possible human emotion, to finally realize that aliens deserve just as much respect as him. His new-found friendship with them is a reminder that unity often comes in times of hardship. As a matter of fact, the aliens are another side of the human persona. Despite their prawn-like appearance, they feel pain and their desperation is very real. As minutes pass, it becomes obvious that there is no need to come from another planet to experience the brunt of fear and misunderstanding.
For members of the public who attended the 2010 Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering in Winnipeg, "District 9" rings a strangely familiar bell. Some scenes are reminiscent of what happens when the powers that be make decisions that can destroy lives, without taking human feelings into account.
"District 9" was directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. For more information, visit the official Website.
-----------------------
Do you like this article? Leave a comment and/or share it. You can also subscribe – by clicking the "subscribe" button above – to get alerts every time Cendrine Marrouat publishes a new article.
-----------------------
Cendrine Marrouat is a writer, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
Comments