Filmmaker Isaiah Saxon brings the magic of the human-animal connection to the big screen in The Legend of Ochi. Seven years in the making, Saxon’s debut feature film is a humble yet poignant hero’s journey that explores themes of love and conviction. Set to a swirling orchestral score by David Longstreth (of Dirty Projectors), The Legend of Ochi is a feel-good fantasy tale that beautifully captures the emotional and spiritual relationship between man and mammal.

The Magnetism of Communication Without Words

The film’s protagonist is Yuri (Helena Zengel), a soft-spoken teen who lives with her father (Willem Dafoe) and adoptive brothers in a remote village on the island of Carpathia. Yuri has grown to fear elusive, primate-like creatures known as ochi. Ochis live in the neighboring forest and are considered dangerous, a threat to the town’s livestock and livelihood. However, this rhetoric comes into question when Yuri finds a wounded and stranded baby ochi. Sensing its vulnerability and dependence is enough of a catalyst for Yuri to break from her traditional family values, as she commits to saving the ochi and returning him to his mother. This decision kicks off a transformative physical and emotional adventure that proves life-changing for both species.

Watch The Legend of Ochi trailer here.

Channeling Emotional Aliveness Through Puppetry

The Legend of Ochi has the sentimental elements of a modern-day E.T. and My Neighbor Totoro while still feeling fresh and inspired. The ochis are cute creatures with large ears and small, yet expressive, eyes. They are musical and magical, communicating through sensations and not words, similar to the mesmerizing communication style of whale songs. Their tiny furry bodies and lanky limbs fantastically come alive through puppeteers, suit performers, and animatronic designers. From a production standpoint, the craftsmanship is stunning and wholly absorbing.

Takeaway

The saying “People fear what they don’t understand” rings true. In The Legend of Ochi, much about the symbiotic relationship to nature is misunderstood. Isaiah Saxon’s sweet tale of adventure is a testament to a mindset of acceptance. It may even inspire a deeper appreciation of the natural world and one’s duty to both serve and preserve it. The Legend of Ochi brings out the best in artistically empathetic storytelling with a nod to nostalgic craftsmanship.