For Humans Only
I love stories that take real people and put them in impossible, outlandish situations. Basically, if you’re going to make things up, you might as well really go to town on it … but the story still needs to be populated by characters that feel, well, real. This is why I like Battlestar Galactica - and it’s why I like District 9, which I’ve just seen.
Apart from being visually stunning (albeit a tad too gory for my taste, but that’s easily overlooked) and having a heart-wrenching central theme of xenophobia, corrupt bureaucracy and greed, the movie really touched me simply because the main character Wikus is such an unlikely hero.
Yeah I know, we’ve seen that before. Since Tolkien did it everyone has to. But most Unlikely Hero-type characters are easily identified as heroes early on. I didn’t get that feeling from Wikus. In the beginning of the film he struck me as a bumbling fool at best, and a fairly unpleasant xenophobic bureaucrat at worst. A human like the rest of us, very sweet on his gorgeous wife, and generally nothing special. Then the script forces him through unimaginable circumstances to become a hero.
And that transformation took plenty of time and a lot of failures on the way. Right up until the very end he was driven by his own natural desire to solve his own problems before anyone else’s. He didn’t magically turn into a champion of good halfway through the film as is usually the case. On top of that, it’s not even clear that he IS a hero - it really depends on which perspective you choose.
So, all in all, District 9 proved to be a marvellously entertaining sci-fi flick which - unusually - actually managed to touch me deeply and get me thinking about a lot of stuff.
I saw it yesterday and really agree. I liked that they made Wikus such an awkward character — Frodo might be an unlikely hero by position and species, but he’s every bit the standard noble hero in personality, whereas Wikus is just some guy: angry, self-involved, and just a bit stupid.
I loved the way Wikus was happily going along with MNU’s plans, calling the aliens “prawns” and patronising them, but at the same time getting angry when people kill them or ask him to kill them. He didn’t seem to have a clear or consistent moral position. That’s a hard thing to do right but it’s how real life works. It’s good to find such clever writing in a mainstream sci-fi action blockbuster. With any luck people will come to expect it.
Incidentally, a BBC radio sketch show (That Mitchell And Webb Sound) has had a recurring sketch lately about an orthopaedic surgery with its own Stargate, which weirdly seems to cover some of the same interplanetary race issues.
Comment by Andrew — Saturday, September 19, 2009 @ 15:29
You’re back! I have some archive reading to do then.
I saw this movie too recently - I agree it is great. Despite being a sci-fi action thriller type of movie it also had a good enough plot and actors that I really ended up getting involved, which is rare enough. I was also definitely wincing at a few points (to avoid spoilers I’ll just say “fingernails”).
Although I’m not exactly a film connoiseur - I also saw cloudy with a chance of meatballs recently and loved it. (hehe)
Comment by Glynn — Monday, October 5, 2009 @ 23:42
i m just wanted change ,,and i tried myself honestly change ,,to leave happily in this life ,,i decided to die earlier …i boaring my self and i cant see myself like this ..now in what situation i am travel ling bye to everyone,,
Comment by kiran — Sunday, September 26, 2010 @ 22:03
i tried myself honestly change ,,to leave happily in this life
Comment by ball bearings — Saturday, January 29, 2011 @ 05:39