District 9 in the sci-fi thriller genre tells about the arrival of a UFO shortly on the territory of modern Johannesburg, a South African troubled metropolis. Contrary to expectations of a hostile invasion, the aliens are refugees from their planet and appear before the viewer dying of hunger and huddled together (Blomkamp). Aliens are moved to a camp called District 9, which turns to be another prison for them (Blomkamp). The film is a satirist comparison with the racial segregation policy of apartheid dominated in the same South Africa.
Unlike the typical depiction in other films, the picture of aliens’ arrival on Earth stands out to me. I like the most that Blomkamp uses many documentary elements, which enhances the realism and makes the film not only entertainment but also a reason to think about the need for justice in our world. The many filmic elements and excellent digital effects make viewers feel that the happening in the movie is real. Starting with the film’s introductory part, cinematic techniques, including news footage, civilian testimonies, expert interviews, and how they are edited together, make me feel like a real eyewitness to the events. In addition, the protagonist’s interview scene, using mise-en-scene and background sounds such as keyboard clicks and paper shuffling, creates him as a realistic character. After watching the movie, I have questions about why Blomkamp depicted only one alien on the ship as a sentient being.
To summarize, District 9 tells the story of human contact with aliens, drawing parallels with the policy of apartheid in South Africa. Being a fantastic action movie, the film is more like a documentary about real events due to filmic elements such as cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound, and editing. Its main message is to force us to think about the harsh reality of the real world, its absurdity and prejudice, which we must fight as Nelson Mandela and the black South African population did.
Work Cited
Blomkamp, Neill, director. District 9. Sony Pictures Releasing, 2009.