One aspect of film that has always fascinated me is how two people can have such different reaction to the same film. That’s why when I came across online articles and comments by people who didn’t like ‘District 9’ because they found it racist I was instantly interested and started thinking about the film on a deeper level.
One of the more interesting articles was on Racialicious. It claims a part of the films racism comes from the fact that the aliens were stand-ins for black South Africans under apartheid. They argue that the way the aliens are depicted makes them look dangerous, stupid & violent, making it seem that the aliens (there for the blacks they represent) deserved to be locked away in the ghettoes.
For me this isn’t accurate as the aliens weren’t representative of black South Africans, whose harsh reactions were used to demonstrate how easily a disadvantaged group can persecute another disadvantaged group. They were instead a clever manifestation of the ‘outsider’ or a group we fear because they are ‘not one of us’ and don’t act like us. These differences make it easy for us to distance ourselves and justify cruel actions we might inflict on them. As demonstrated by Wikus’s sickening attitude as the nest of babies is set a light.
The site then argues that the film would have been more interesting if the aliens had been depicted in a more ‘pleasant manner’, in essence spielberg-ing the whole film. For me this would have robbed the film of some if it’s subtler and more interesting points. The negative imagery we’re shown of the aliens in the first act are shown to us through the lens of the documentary makers (who represent the media and common perception), this is the imagery that is shown day in and day out and that people use to inform their opinion on the “prawns”.
It’s only once we break away from the documentary crew for the first time (and the media’s one sided coverage) that we see another more intelligent side to the aliens in Christopher. As the film goes on we see less through the documentaries camera and more firsthand how terrible the reality of the aliens actually is. Another possible jab at the media is how the MNU uses the media to turn the public against Wikus by distorting the truth. This is a valid commentary in a world where ‘news’ is becoming more and more one sided and a valuable tool for propaganda.
Another point that would be stripped from the movie if everything was made to be prettier is that it is the conditions enforced on the aliens in the ghettoes that have pushed them to such desperation and to act the way we see. They have no food, no options and no home. They are all trying to survive against a system that has left them no choice and surrounds them in squaller and crime.
In the article the representation of the aliens isn’t the biggest concern, it is Nigerian gang that causes the most problems. With the gang’s cannibalism and voodoo witch doctor causing the most offence. First of all and this is something no one seems to be realising is that it wasn’t cannibalism. They were eating parts from another species and the arm the gang leader wanted from Wikus was all ready fully transformed (yes, this is a technicality but I had to point it out).
A very sad fact that this reflects is that in certain parts of Africa, because of superstition, albinos are at danger of being killed so that their parts can be used in witchcraft and ritual medicine & potions which are believed to cure all manner of diseases. In the film different parts of the ‘prawns’ are believed to cure many dieses including aids as seen in a part of the documentary. Once again the film is reflecting an ugly and disgusting truth that is a way alive today. This act isn’t in my opinion just thrown into make us afraid of the savage & scary black man as some could argue but seems to be a comment on how far people are willing to go for power and how in-human we can treat one another.
To me the film was about how much one can take before they are broken and truly give up. Christopher has been trying for 20 years to escape and save his people. Wikus in the course of 70 hours has his world destroyed but in the end accepts his faith and does his first un-selfish act in sacrificing himself. It is all the pain, xenophobia, suffering and greed we had seen throughout the movie that made Wikus’ choice in the end all the more touching.
I didn’t find District 9 racist. To me it was a breath of fresh air in a time where nearly every sci-fi or action film is either a remake or based on comics and video games. This post isn’t meant to defend District 9, it doesn’t need defending. This is more a reaction to an article I read. I’m curious to see what other people thought of the film and would enjoy hearing some opinions so feel free to share.
No related posts.
Leave Your Response