“I’m not infected!”
synopsis
When a massive alien ship stalls over Johannesburg, its malnourished occupants are confined to a segregated slum known as District 9. Bureaucrat Wikus van de Merwe oversees relocation efforts but becomes infected with alien DNA, forcing him to experience life from the other side of oppression.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Sci-fi as social allegory done with grit instead of sermonizing. Shot in documentary style, it feels urgent and raw. The transformation of Wikus from oblivious functionary to desperate fugitive carries surprising emotional weight. The action is brutal, but the heart of the film is empathy.
A serious mood.
Post-film discussion about allegory.
Watching without knowing too much beforehand.
A willingness to be uncomfortable.
Absurdist's Corner
Humanity finally meets aliens… and immediately sticks them in a fenced compound with paperwork.
fun facts
Developed from director Neill Blomkamp’s short film Alive in Joburg.
Filmed in actual South African townships.
Made on a relatively modest budget but became a major hit.