Okja: Green Drinks September Film Screening

At Green Initiatives' 81st film screening and the 9th anniversary of the Global Financial Crisis, we are screening OKJA, a film about corporate greed, GMOs, animal agriculture, and how one girl's affection for her 'pet' takes her to another part of the world to rescue her from the hands of a giant multinational.

According to The Guardian, "Okja uses the trappings of sci-fi fantasy to ask uncomfortably down-to-earth questions about where our food comes from, exposing the savage teeth of consumerism behind the friendly smile of corporate capitalism."

Film screening will be followed by a short discussion with Jenny M Tang, Producer of upcoming documentary, Zodiac 12. Film comes with Chinese subtitles. Light snacks and beverages will be served to our attendees.

Film Synopsis

For 10 idyllic years, young Mija has been caretaker and constant companion to Okja – a massive animal and an even bigger friend – at her home in the mountains of South Korea. But that changes when a family-owned multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation takes Okja for themselves and transports her to New York, where image obsessed and self-promoting CEO Lucy Mirando has big plans for Mija’s dearest friend.

With no particular plan but single-minded in intent, Mija sets out on a rescue mission, but her already daunting journey quickly becomes more complicated when she crosses paths with disparate groups of capitalists, demonstrators and consumers, each battling to control the fate of Okja…while all Mija wants to do is bring her friend home.

Deftly blending genres, humor, poignancy and drama, the director begins with the gentlest of premises-the bond between man and animal-and ultimately creates a distinct and layered vision of the world that addresses the animal inside us all.

Speaker

Jenny Tang, Producer
Background: Jenny M. Tang is an Australian-Chinese producer based in Shanghai. She is also an animal-lover on a plant-based diet. She has previously worked on video contents, short films, and music videos, and heavily involved in social documentaries and feature films. For "Zodiac 12", she is working with Beijing-based vegan/director Jian Yi on bringing light onto the realities of animal welfare in modern China.

About Jenny's Project, Zodiac 12
For centuries, everyone born in China has had a zodiac animal they identify with. In "Zodiac 12", the relationship between Chinese people and these animals will be the explored through the first-ever documentary with a uniquely modern Chinese narrative.

For more information check out the website www.zodiac12.net.