By Kayla DeKraker
The new movie THE LEGEND OF OCHI focuses on the beauty of the relationship between humans and animals in the midst of a chaotic world.
“The movie is a fantasy adventure about a girl and her relationship with an exotic primate on a remote island in the Black Sea,” writer and director Isaiah Saxon told Deadline. “It’s about their ability to connect and communicate and how that opens her up and changes her life and changes her ability to communicate to her own family.”
Saxon explained his inspiration for the film, which he began thinking about eight years ago.
“It was just that instinct to focus on a kid and an animal as the sort of antidote to the adult, disgusting, civilized, complicated world that we’re living in,” he said. “The direct realness and authenticity and sensitivity of kids and animals.”
The film stars Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Finn Wolfhard and Paul Manalatos.
Movieguide®’s review of the movie summarizes, “The story focuses on Yuri, a shy blonde teenager living on the remote island of Carpathia near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. All her life, Yuri’s father has taught her to fear and hunt some mythical creatures living high in the mountains.”
The synopsis continues, saying that as Yuri’s father and some local boys hunt any mythical creatures living in their land, she works to save a baby creature she found and reunite it with its mother.
The review commends the movie’s “wonderful, heartfelt ending where Yuri’s family reunites, reconciles and establishes a connection with the creatures. Yuri’s mother calls it a ‘miracle.'”
Movieguide® did note, however, that the film “has some Romantic, feminist elements. It also has some scary moments and brief foul language. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.”
A24 Films posted a photo of the film to Instagram. In a caption, the studio said, “THE LEGEND OF OCHI starring Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Willem Dafoe, and Emily Watson. In theaters April 25.”
People rushed to the comments expressing their excitement for the film. “Can’t wait to see this! It looks wildly inventive,” one user said. Another person added, “This is one of my most anticipated films of the year. It looks BEAUTIFUL 👏👏👏” One person joked, “HOW can Williem Dafoe be in every movie?! I mean, not complaining, just shocked.”
THE LEGEND OF OCHI will release to limited theaters April 18 and be available nationwide April 25.
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