Culture
Now Playing: ‘The Legend of Ochi’ asks if you can be friends with what you’ve been taught to fear
By: Gordon Briggs
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The Legend of Ochi is a family fantasy flick that I can only describe as “offbeat.” Set on a fictional island town of Carpathia, we follow the story of a young girl who befriends the small cerulean forest creature she has been trained to hunt and kill.
First things first, the movie looks gorgeous. On the big screen, the film’s color palette really pops. As our hero and a collection of quirky characters set out into nature to save or kill these furry creatures, Ochi blends striking shots of the landscape with practical effects, puppetry, and some CGI to create a unique and immersive world.
Specifically, cinematographer Evan Prosofsky crafts a visual style characterized by misty forests and golden meadows encircled by green mountains. Because of an energetic supporting turn by Willem Dafoe and an emphasis on interspecies communication (the girl and the creature talk by singing), the film will likely entertain adults and youngsters.
My one gripe was the lead character, played by Helena Zengel. I wish she had more personality, and the film relied less on her and her furry friend being cute. Still, if you are a fan of movies where kids befriend fantasy creatures, this could be the film for you.
Rating: ★★★
Now Playing is a column by film scholar Dr. Gordon Briggs published each Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday’s column focuses on a film currently screening at the Athena Cinema in Athens, followed by a Thursday piece that offers historical context or explores a related film.