August 11 - District 9

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 11. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

DISTRICT 9

In 1982 an alien spacecraft with 1.8 million “Prawns”, as they are called arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa. The aliens are segregated in District 9. Now after 20 years the government wants to move them to a remote area.  Wikus van de Merwe is put in charge of this effort. While serving eviction notices, Merwe destroys an alien nest and a container containing a fluid that he accidentally sprays on himself. He starts mutating into a prawn and is used to test alien weapons that only work with their DNA present. Plans are made to dissect him but on August 11, 2010 [37:59 to 49:52] Merwe escapes from the hospital. Merwe goes to District 9 and meets the alien, Christopher Johnson who had extracted the fluid. He says that if he had it, they could go to the mothership and reverse Merwe’s condition. To get the fluid Merwe and Johnson attack the lab and retrieve the fluid. Johnson says he must return to his home planet, which will take three years. Merwe attacks him and takes off in the shuttle, which is shot down. Merwe and Johnson are captured by the army, but rescued by Nigerian arms dealers. Their leader thinks that eating Merwe’s alien arm will let him use the alien weapons.   Merwe uses an alien battle suit to enable Johnson to escape to the mothership., which leaves Earth. Merwe disappears, but he may have transformed into a Prawn, awaiting Johnson’s return with the other aliens in new District 10.  

This is a very strange sc-fi film. In part social satire, in part comedy, it’s very hard to classify. The actor may be unknown, but under they all turn in compelling performances. 

When Merwe escapes from the hospital the security camera footage at 44:41 shows this date

Producer - Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham

Director - Neill Blomkamp

Screenplay - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

Awards –  The movie was nominated for the Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best

                  Visual Effects, and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars at the 82^nd Academy

                   Awards

Runtime – 1 hour 52 minutes

Released – August 13, 2009

Starring –

Sharlto Copley as Wikus van de Merwe, a mild-mannered manager

Jason Cope as Christopher Johnson, an alien

David James as Colonel Kobus Venter, a mercenary-soldier sent to capture Wikus  Eugene Khumbanyiwa as Obesandjo, a paralyzed psychopathic Nigerian warlord

Louis Minnaar as Piet Smit, a director at MNU, and Wikus' father-in-law

Mandla Gaduka as Fundiswa Mhlanga, Wikus' assistant and trainee during the eviction

Vanessa Haywood as Tania Smit van de Merwe, Wikus' wife

Robert Hobbs as Ross Pienaar.

Kenneth Nkosi as Thomas, an MNU security guard.

Nathalie Boltt as Sarah Livingstone, a sociologist at Kempton Park University

Sylvaine Strike as Katrina McKenzie, a doctor from the Department of Social Assistance

John Sumner  as Les Feldman, a MIL engineer

Nick Blake as Francois Moraneu, a member of the CIV Engineer Team

Jed Brophy as James Hope, the ACU chief of police

Vittorio Leonardi as Michael Bloemstein, from the MNU Dept. of Alien Civil Affairs

Johan van Schoor as Nicolaas van de Merwe, Wikus' father

Marian Hooman as Sandra van de Merwe, Wikus' mother

Stella Steenkamp as Phyllis Sinderson, a co-worker of Wikus'

Tim Gordon as Clive Henderson, an entomologist at WLG University

Jonathan Taylor as the Doctor

Nick Boraine as Lieutenant Weldon, Colonel Venter's right-hand man