Grade: B / Rated: "R"
(If you've seen the movie feel free to provide your own grade in the comments section)
"District 9" is a gripping drama with sociopoltical overtones that also happens to be a science fiction feature. It is a somber but thrillng vehicle that will appeal to anti-sci fi skeptics as well as hardcore fans. The movie navigates a delcate balance between special effects wizardry, traditional sci fi concepts and real world social commentary. It largely succeeds at balancing these often disparate themes and as a result, despite some flaws, it is the standout sci fi movie of the year.
District 9 is set in Johannesburg South Africa and there is no question that this setting gives it an aura of authenticity that farily brims from the screen. South Africa's history of apartheid and separation of races mirrors the movie's set piece of a race of misplaced aliens segregated by the authorities from the human population. The alien's massive ship arrived over a shanty town area of Johannesburg in 1982 and has hovered some 1000 feet above for over two decades. Why they came and how they became stranded is never explained. But after some two months of mystery it is determined that the aliens are in dire straits. They are starving and are apparently unable to provide for themselves. The authorities make the area in the vicinity of the ship a holding compound for the visitors, where they feed and provide for them called District 9. Here, they are fenced off from the rest of Johannesburg's populace and are retained in the squalid conditions of the shanty town. They are surrounded 24-7 by the military, obstensly for their own protection but actually more out of fear of interaction with people. This fear is seemingly justified because there have been several violent clashes between the aliens and the human population, so much so that a decision is made to relocate the entire alien population, some 1.2 million, to an area 250 miles from the city.
Here enters Wikus Van De Merwe, played by newcomer Sharlto Copley, who is picked to lead the effort to transfer the aliens from District 9, more about him in a moment.
The aliens are referred to as "Prawns" because of their resemblace to shrimp. This name is reminisent of the terms used for the races in South Africa's apartheid past; Blacks, Coloreds and Whites. This is another example of how the movie's plot mirrors specific aspects of SA's history. The appearance of the aliens is one of the movie's strenghts; they are tall, insectoid-like, creatures who move with a deceptively halting gait; they are amongst the most realistic looking film creatures in history.
Van De Merwe is a rather callow employee of the MNU, the corporation that is in charge of District 9. He has no previous experience with a task of this magnitude, he is only picked for it because he is marred to the CEO's daughter, who is played by newcomer Vanessa Haywood. Wikus eagerly accepts the task but is almost from the start in over his head with it. During his first day on the relocation project he is accidentally exposed to some alien chemical. This exposure will effect a profound physical change upon Wikus that makes him question his very way of life and thrusts him into the pivotal role in this saga.
As previously noted, many features of South African urban culture are incorporated in District 9. But perhaps none of them are more potentially controversial than the movie's depiction of Nigerian gansters. Nigerian gansters are an authentic reality of South African cities and doubtless other African nation's cities. That they are organized, prolifigate and often ruthless is undeniable. However, in District 9 they are depicted as engaging in activites regarding the aliens that some may find offensive. It is here where the movie is constructed on it's shakiest ground. It is completely permissiable for the first time director, Neill Blomcamp, to use Nigerian gangs as a plot feature but some of the activites that he has them doing are questionable at best, utterly insenstive and borderline racist at worst. It is rather easy to hold forth on other's creative endeavors, this is what I do every time I review a film. Yet I would be remiss If I didn't acknowledge that I would have much preferred Blomcamp to have thought of other ways to demonstate the Nigerian gang's inhumanity, other than the plot devices he came up with. The repellent nature of one of these activities in particular are an unfortunate distraction to an otherwise fine film.
Sharlto Copley's Wikus Van De Merwe is the fulcrum upon which whole of District 9's machinery moves. His portrayal of Wikus' awakening brings to mind the protagonists of other classic sci fi classics like "Soylent Green" (1973) and "Blade Runner" (1982). Copley's performance is a showcase of emotional intensity and ensures that District 9 remains the human-centered enterprise that is it's greatest advantage.
"District 9" is a compelling and challenging genre movie whose inventiveness saves it from it's conventions. It has some logical flaws and also unfortunately trucks in some needless racial sterotyping. Nevertheless, it's creatvity and it's willingness to use the sociopolitical background of it's location as it's armature is an example of a type of ambition missing from most movies and sets it apart from the crowd.
Comments
A great sci-fi for the thinking person, District 9 cant but help conjure up images of Palestinian refugees arriving in Jordan, being shuffled off to Lebanon, and then ultimately back to the fortressed conditions suffered by those in Gaza and the West Bank.
District-9 is an immediate classic. Regarding the critic's comment that " The repellent nature of one of these activities in particular are an unfortunate distraction to an otherwise fine film." many would have to disagree. this was hardly over the top. The 'practice' referred to was exercised by Abadja, Nkanu, Kalabari, Ogboni etc tribes in Nigeria but largely put aside when Christianity swept thru by the turn of last century. More recently we've seen this practice resurface among warring rebels, notably in Liberia where ripping out your opponent's heart & eating it raw gave one "strength." Its still not as bad as in the past, though, where a gourd enema would be pumped into the bowels and stomachs of prisoners to make bodies more succulent - bodies were left until the palm-oil had permeated them, and then cut up and devoured... Anyway, this practice was essential to the film's plot as a means to transfer the alien's DNA.
gourd enema of hot boiling palm oil, that is...
gourd enema of hot boiling palm oil, that is...
so many plot holes, but still enjoyable as heck.
South African Blacks = Nigerian Blacks. One and the same. I am a black male from New York And I was disgusted at the portrayal of Nigerians in this movie. The reality of Nigerian gangsterism is unnecessary in this work of FICTION. During this movie, the Nigerians were cannibals, intergalactic crossbreeding prostitutes, arms dealers and generally more evil than the space creatures. The space creatures themselves, inhabitants of the south african slums, similar to Soweto had undertones of black stereotypes throughout the whole movie. Imagine being a Nigerian father bringing your kids to the movie to have them be compared to prostituting gangsters. White people/Europeans/Americans have to realize that we put money in their pockets by watching their films and stop playing out their evil fantasies with us (black always dies first). We have a right to dignity when we are watching a film that we paid for and American filmmakers have to be confronted about it
And regarding Alexander's comments. I will leave your instant classic comment untouched as it is undoubtedly a matter of taste, or lack thereof, but the fact you believe that the practice, which you place in quotation marks, was not over the top because it was practiced by certain tribes until Christianity civilized the ways, is classic bullshit. Why would the film makers in a work of fiction want to abide by the strict constraints of history for that one point. why not make it a historical piece. There was no other way to transfer DNA? Really? Then how did the protagonist get infected? How do you explain the black prostitute. These filmmakers and Hollywood as a whole views the rest of the world as subhuman and the 3rd world as a playground for their propangada pieces where they can indignify an entire nation of good people with stereotypes and vile behavior. Since you are such an history buff, Alexander, do some work on Hollywood history and stop rationalizing racist behavior
Actually, the Nigerians weren't portrayed as cannibals for reasons I can't describe here without giving away a spoiler. I am a black woman (American) who has black relatives from other countries (Tanzania and Jamaica). My African family members saw this film and weren't offended. Apparently it hit too close to home to say it was stereotypical. I have known people in the Italian mob, the Russian mob but thankfully not organized Nigerian gangs, but if they are anything like other mafia, they aren't home baking cookies. Showing an evil group as evil isn't racist. There was no time in the film to give them any sort of "depth".
And another thing... this is an AMAZING film. Especially for sci-fi geeks. The only character to go through real change (literally and emotionally) was Wikus, but I'm willing to allow it for a debut director's first time out. I just hope that when this hits the airwaves and nearby stars get the broadcast, they don't want to come blow us up on principle. With what's going on in the town hall meetings, I think this movie really effectively shows the evil that is the human heart.
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