Isaiah Saxon's Fantasy Debut 'The Legend of Ochi' Stars Willem Dafoe and Emily Watson

Isaiah Saxon makes his feature directorial debut with 'The Legend of Ochi', a fantasy film set for release on May 8 via I Wonder Pictures. The story follows teenager Yuri, who befriends a lost Ochi cub and embarks on a journey to return it to its family. The film pays homage to 1980s cinema like 'E.T.', 'The Gremlins', and 'The Goonies'. The cast includes Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Helena Zengel. Saxon, who studied film at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, emphasizes non-verbal communication through music, images, and movement. The film explores themes of connection beyond language, drawing comparisons to 'My Neighbor Totoro', 'The Shape of Water', and 'Arrival'. A24 is behind the project.