Scene Deconstruction

I believe that the theme of District 9 is racial equality. The film shows that all people, no matter how different, deserve to be treated equally and fairly. It is an active theme, because the issue of race is never directly stated, but rather shown.

The filmmakers who produced District 9 create an uncanny amount of tension between the humans and the aliens. Shape is one of the key ways they go about doing this. A human, in particular the main character of the movie, is, in essence, mostly rectangular. The shoulders form corners matched by partially parted feet creating the entire shape. In sharp contrast to the human rectangle, the aliens are somewhat ovular, made up of mostly curved lines. The differing shapes create a separation of features, accentuating the differences between the two species, and making the interspecies prejudice more pronounced. Similarly, the sheer size of the aliens makes them seem more formidable, causing the humans to act more aggressively and thus instigating a rise in tension.

            Though the differences in shape generate contrasting physical characteristics, there is a certain affinity in the movement of both. Observably, humans move and act like humans, that much is expected. But the alien creatures have a very similar human gait, very humanistic sort of movements that make them more relatable to viewers. This similarity in movement types correspondingly aids in the rising tension, as audience members are subconsciously guided in empathizing with the aliens while the ‘evil’ humans bring about unjust terror.

            The tension continues to build as the main character, Wikus, starts to transform into one of the prawns. There is a release at the end when Wikus’ wife is being interviewed, during which she is holding a handmade flower. We know from earlier in the film that Wikus liked to make his wife gifts, and the ending shot is of a prawn making the flower we previously saw in his wife’s hand. We are led to believe that Wikus has become one of the prawns in a very active manner.