The Legend of Ochi – A24 for the Family
Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie
A24, the favourite movie studio of many a cinephile in the 2020s, have garnered a reputation for the quirky, the well shot, and more often than not, the adult. Their oeuvre includes violent horror movies, intense dramas, and even in their sillier mode with movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once, plenty of jokes that wouldn’t make it on CBBC. There is the odd exception though (one of my favourites from the studio is the adorable Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), and the studio has never been as family friendly as with their most recent release.
The Legend of Ochi is a fantasy adventured puppeteered to life by first time feature director Isaiah Saxon, whose work you may have seen in music videos for artists like Björk and Grizzly Bear. Utilising a combination of CGI, animatronics, live action, and puppets, the film tells the tale of a farm girl named Yuri who, despite the warnings of her village, sets out on an adventure to bring a lost baby Ochi back home. Looking like a combination of Gremlins’ Gizmo and Baby Yoda, the titular creature was controlled by over seven people to create its lifelike movements that serve as the heart of the movie.
It might be rated 12A, but The Legend of Ochi might be A24’s most accessible film to date – and could serve as a great way in for any parents wanting to bring their kids into the movie loving cult.
Discover more about Ochi from Friday 8th to Thursday 14th August
