THEY WALK AMONG US IN "DISTRICT 9"

Oscar® movies are all very well and good in their place, but some people find them “hard to sympathize with”. This is mainly caused by an aversion to big budget movies / movie studios, and that I can understand. But occasionally, just occasionally an Oscar ® movie not quite like the rest comes along. Well, especially this year – with the number of Oscar® nominees going up to 10 in Best Picture. District 9 was one of the “flukes” that got into the top ten on that count, although I was truly rooting for it for Best Screenplay. And Best Editing. Ok, and Best Visual Efects… It’s an alien movie not quite like the rest, hell, it’s a movie not quite like the rest – standing boldly up and criticizing the system slap bang in the middle of Hollywood…
I was as curious as the rest of them when it came to District 9. The marketing tactics used were truly creative: a sticker here, a notice saying “non-humans were not allowed” there… I sat down to the film praying not to be disappointed. My prayers, Thank God, were answered…
As I said, District 9 is an alien movie. It starts – pretty much in “V” style with a large ship (just one – not 29) hovering over Johannesburg (fitting for World Cup Fever, no?). Anyway, one day the ship appears. Then silence. No messages appearing beneath the ship (Yes, OK I watch V. You’re just going to have to live with it), no bizarre creatures demanding to be “taken to our leader” just silence. So, humans being humans, we go and investigate. In fact, it transpires that the ship was just passing and made an emergency stop. The ship is out of order. Illness is rife in the colony. They don’t want to invade the planet – they just want to rest for a few days, repair their ship and go home. This being Earth however, this is not that easy. They are soon caught up in a web of bureaucracy, most of their belongings are confiscated and they are put up in a shanty town / refugee camp – District 9 - in Johannesburg. The big shrimp-like creatures soon breed hostility and racism. We arrive in their campsite with a camera crew – in fact that is what the entire movie is, a “documentary” on District 9, and we watch the developments through the eyes of the cameraman. Developments however are not what they might have been thought. And soon even Wikus Van De Merwe the head of the bureau running District 9 himself is caught up in a freedom fight he never imagined would be his own…
First of all, I defy you to watch this film and not get completely caught up in it. It is one of the best examples of the genre – not using an objective “invisible” camera and placing it live in the action. The director sweeps us along to the heart of the story until we are quite emotionally embroiled. And besides, you would need to have a heart of stone (or a sensitive stomach – having cameras running and jolting along is well and good but apparently this can make people queasy. Personally, I’ve never had the problem but there you go)
I guess I do not need to spell out the criticisms of the human race in general in this film. The problems of today: poverty, inequality, prejudice, racism, empty bureaucracy that doesn’t help those in need… they all find their way into District 9. It also forces us to ask ourselves what makes us “human”. Or rather, what exactly we mean by “human”. The message of the film, in the end, is that we have to look way beyond our appearances to begin to understand each other, and I’m sad to say we have quite a long way to go on that count… Those of an older / queasier generation can still watch it. There is some violence but nothing stomach churning (and yes I can be objective on these matters even though I am a Tarantino fan thank you very much). And, as you have already read, it is most definitely NOT a typical sci-fi movie. It is not the “evil aliens against humans” this time. This time, the humans (well some of them anyway) are the monsters – even though they are the ones with two arms two legs and one head. And as for the personal story line of Vicus – masterfully acted by Sharlto Copely – is touching to the core. To. The Core.
You will think some rather uncomfortable thoughts and draw some rather uncomfortable parallelisms. You will undoubtedly be shocked and shaken, this is one GOOD story. You may, at the end get a tad emotional and hunt for a tissue. It is an experience. I just wish it was awarded for its pains, because as far as I can see, it most definitely deserves something.