By Clay Schuldt

NEW ULM – The New Ulm Film Society’s mockumentary series will explore an alien-but all too realistic version-of South African politics with a screening of “District 9.”

The screening begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the New Ulm Public Library.

“District 9” is a 2009 science-fiction film that explores a South African community populated by extraterrestrial refugees. The film is structured like an expose on government and corporate corruption. The movie uses different archival footage including newsreels, security camera recordings and video interviews to tell the story of Wikus van de Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley) and his change of heart regarding the rights of a group of extraterrestrial refugees living in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“District 9” is set in an alternate timeline in which an alien spaceship arrives over Johannesburg, in 1982. Upon arrival, the aliens posed no threat to humans. Most were malnourished and their spaceship was no longer functional. The South African government was forced to take the aliens and create refugee camps for the aliens. Most of the aliens-who were given the derogatory name “Prawns” are forced to live in a slum called District 9. 

By 2009, the South African government was attempting to relocate to a new camp. The relocation process was handed over to a weapons manufacturing company called Multinational United (MNU). One of the officials in charge of the relocation is Wikus van de Merwe, the son-in-law of the MNU CEO.

Wikus is working to evict aliens from the District 9 camp when he comes in contact with a synthesized fuel source. The fuel has the side effect of mutating Wikus’ DNA making him seem more alien. Overnight, a man who was helping oppress the alien refugees finds himself being treated as one of them. Wikus is forced to work with the aliens to save himself from his former MNU coworkers who are determined to harvest his mutated DNA at all cost.

Upon its release in 2009, “District 9” quickly became one of the gold standards for the mockumentary and science-fiction genres. The film would get nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which was a rare achievement for a scie

science-fiction. The last time a sci-fi film was nominated was 1982. “District 9” was also the first mockumentary film to receive a best picture nomination.

Though the film did not win the Oscar, it became the best example of how to make grounded and realistic science-fiction films. Since the film was shot as a mockumentary, the cinematography was kept natural, using a hand-held camera. This gives many of the action sequences a real world feel, placing the audience in the middle of the action. Other footage is taken from surveillance cameras or archival footage and film grain was added to make the movie seem like it cobbled together from multiple sources. This gives the film an added sense of realism, which is important when some of the main characters are giant bug-like aliens. 

Adding to the realism were the sets. “District 9”  was shot in an actual shanty town in South Africa. Most of the shacks were not sets, but part of a real neighborhood. As with the plot of the film the shanty town was recently vacated by government officials moving the population elsewhere. Some of the dead animal carcasses in the backgrounds of shots were real and were not placed by the film crew.

Through all of the film’s technical achievements, “District 9” is best remembered for getting audiences to empathize with giant bug aliens. The filmmakers intentionally designed the aliens of “District 9” to be as inhuman and frightening as possible. Through the mockumentary style, the alien characters become endearing and friendlier than many of the human characters.

Though “District 9” is a science-fiction film, the metaphor behind the movie is all too real. The plight of the alien refugees is intended to mirror the apartheid government of South Africa. The movie’s title is taken from a real incident that happened in Cape Town in 1966. A mixed race neighborhood called District 6 was demolished by the apartheid government to make room for white homeowners. 

“District 9” was written and directed by Neill Blomkamp who grew up in apartheid South Africa. “District 9” was the first full-length film he directed. He previously directed a short film called “Alive in Joburg” with a similar plot and theme. 

“District 9” received significant praise for creating a mockumentary and science-fiction film that was about real world concerns, even if its plot was out of this world.

The New Ulm Film Society’s screening of “District 9” is free to the public. Before and after the film, there will be a discussion about the film’s place in film history.