Charlotte Zhang's brilliant debut film, Tycoon, is a dystopian drama set in Los Angeles around the 2028 Summer Olympics. The story envisions a city gripped by paranoia and conspiracy, where a livestock disease has banned all meat production. The primary protein source, powdered insects, is controlled by a megacorporation called Ootheca Inc. Adding to the irony, a cockroach infestation plagues local neighborhoods, highlighting Ootheca's monopolistic greed.
A Human Story of Survival
Despite its fantastical premise, Tycoon is a deeply human tale of survival. The protagonists, Lito (Miguel Padilla-Juarez) and Jay (Jon Lawrence Reyes), are two Latino hustlers who exploit the chaos for petty crimes, including stealing protein powder from an Ootheca trailer. Their adventures are shot dynamically using handheld DV cameras, Super 8, and Xerox art. Unlike other filmmakers using DIY styles, Zhang pays careful attention to blocking and composition. Scenes of house parties, twilight rides, and street drifting create a stunning city symphony, where visual rhythm emerges from disorder.
Political Implications
Beneath the casual visual tone lie serious political themes. As Latino men in an era of state-sanctioned racial violence, Lito and Jay face economic precarity and constant surveillance. Their choice to game the system rather than be crushed by it—like Ootheca's insects—is empowering. Zhang occasionally uses text intertitles to make political allusions explicit, which can feel awkward, but the film's message is timely. Tycoon screens at the ICA, London from 22 May.
