This April, CreaZion Studios invites you to embark on a daring adventure with A24’s The Legend of Ochi, the feature directorial debut of writer-director Isaiah Saxon. Produced by Jonathan Wang (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Richard Peete (Blue Ruin), and Traci Carlson (Killer Sally), the film stars Helena Zengel (News of the World, Transamazonia), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Emily Watson (Dune: Prophecy), and Willem Dafoe (Nosferatu, American Psycho).
The Legend of Ochi follows Yuri (Helena Zengel), a teenager from the remote island of Carpathia. Raised by her loving yet fiercely militant father (Willem Dafoe), Yuri has been taught to fear and hunt the mythical creatures known as the Ochi. But when she stumbles upon a wounded baby Ochi, alone and vulnerable, she forms an unexpected bond with the creature. Defying her father’s rules and the rigid beliefs of her world, Yuri sets off on a quest to reunite the baby Ochi with its family.
This debut film from Isaiah Saxon is a story of love, longing, and acceptance, centering on a teenage girl who befriends a mysterious forest creature she encounters in the woods. Saxon was inspired by the connection between a child and their pets, appreciating how a human and an animal can bond and communicate without words.
In this world of Ochi, shot in the Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, lies a labor of love required to bring this new film experience to life. In creating this lush fantasy world, Saxon applied a practical, handcrafted approach, from visuals to puppetry operation. The ape-like baby Ochi is operated by puppeteers, while adult Ochis were brought to life by actors wearing animatronic limb extensions. What’s more, in a world of increasingly sleek CGI, the imperfections of this kind of practical approach to the fantastical only add depth to the viewer’s experience. “When you do something handmade, the imperfections become charming,” Saxon says.
At CreaZion Studios, they champion stories that matter to the Philippine market, hoping that this new-age adventure fantasy will inspire Filipino families to look beyond appearances and create meaningful bonds. “With this coming-of-age story and the discovery of the importance of friendship—whether or not there is any form of communication—this film aims to encourage a deeper perspective,” shared CEO RJ Agustin.
So join us and step into the world of The Legend of Ochi! Watch it with your whole family or your fellow fur parents this April 25 in major cinemas nationwide!