Netflix blockbuster Okja features a gay couple, but you might not have noticed
Netflix is making waves in the cinematic world with its first big blockbuster Okja.
The online streaming giant released the big budget South Korean-American film, helmed by director Bong Joon-ho.
The $50 million film tells the story of a South Korean girl Mija on a quest to reunite with her pet giant pig, named Okja.
Though it wasn’t made explicitly clear, eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that the film quietly portrayed a gay couple.
The low-key relationship is between Blond (Daniel Henshall) and Silver (Devon Bostick), two members of the Animal Liberation Front group who rescue Mija and Okja.
There are several clues throughout the film that the pair are a gay couple, with the biggest hints in the background of scenes.
As Mija is introduced to the ALF members, the pair are visible in the background with their arms around eachother.
After Silver faints from malnourishment, Blond is later shown attempting to feed him a tomato, cradling him in his arms and stroking his face.
It’s not the only time the pair appear close, appearing together in pretty much every scene they have throughout the film.
They even have a romantic blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment near the end of the film, when Silver is caught by security forces and kicked to the ground.
Blond, who had been running away from the attackers, leaps to his boyfriend’s defence, knocking out the guard to rescue Silver, kissing him on the cheek.
The film has been met with widespread acclaim from critics and viewers alike, who have praised it for going outside the boundaries of conventional blockbusters.
Given the lack of visible LGBT people in cinema, this seems like another example.
Netflix has long been groundbreaking at portraying LGBT people on-screen, from prison drama Orange is the New Black through to sci-fi series Sense8.
Created by transgender filmmakers the Wachowskis, Sense8 was recently given a public reprieve after being publicly axed after two seasons.
Following a campaign from fans, the streaming giant reversed its decision, opting to commission a further two-hour special.
Related: 7 amazing LGBT shows you can binge online
