Director
Neill Blomkamp
Leading Actors/Actresses
Sharlto Copley and Jason Cope
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Nathalie Boltt and Vanessa Haywood
Genre
Science Fiction
Language
English
Awards
Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Adapted Screenplay
Date of Release
August 14th, 2009
Producer
Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham
Setting and Context
District 9, Earth
Narrator and Point of View
Through the point of view of narrator Wikus van de Merwe
Tone and Mood
Serious, disheartening, scientific, and exploratory
Protagonist and Antagonist
Wikus van de Merwe vs. Colonel Koobus Venter
Major Conflict
The MNU vs. Wikus van de Merwe and the aliens
Climax
Just about to run away with the alien armor robot so that he can save himself, Wikus hears that the mercs have decided to kill a captured Christopher, and he decides to return to sacrifice himself to save the alien.
Foreshadowing
The move of the 1.8 million aliens to a new camp further out of town foreshadows a controversial and mysterious incident that will draw the world's attention to District 9.
Understatement
When Milkus opens the canister and something sprays on him, he thinks it's nothing to be concerned with. But, it will change his life both physically and emotionally.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The film was innovative in how it was shot. It was one of the first major feature films to be shot almost entirely hand-held. It was also innovative in that most of the film was shot in South Africa. Really, it could pass for a documentary, which is interesting.
Allusions
The situation of the aliens is eerily similar to apartheid in South Africa. Allusions to apartheid and the short film, as well.
Paradox
The film could pass for a documentary, which constitutes a paradox.
Parallelism
No significant instances of parallelism.