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You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan. No plan at all. You know why? Because life cannot be planned.
-Ki-taek
Review in a Phrase: Invading your cinemas.
Original title- Gisaeng Chung
Initial release- 30 May 2019 (South Korea)
Director- Bong Joon-ho
Genres- Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Plot Keywords- Social satire, Class differences, fraud, scam
Awards- Academy Award for Best Picture, Palme d'Or, MORE
Languages- Korean, English
Synopsis - Non Spoiler Alert!
Story in a Sentence: A poor, jobless family plays out a very much laid arrangement to get occupations for themselves in a rich household, just to unleash a progression of startling events.
Introduction
In this century, where the movie industry is constantly sanitised and standardised, Parasite is a movie that defies categorization i.e. you cannot put into any genre. It's all the more advantageous.
Parasite begins as a bitter - sweet family saga, evolves into a black comedy, takes a cockroach-like detour through a home invasion and finally settles into a terrifying thriller.
This isn't your typical average movie.. The plot and characters are fantastic, and it's difficult to beat. It's all about social standing and class. It's a film with a message in the vein similar to that of Get Out. Even though it was just a film, everything felt true and relatable.
Everybody will find something to connect to. Hollywood likes to take the easy way out on a couple of occasions, but Parasite did the world a favour. This is how a message is delivered.
The Opening Shot
'Parasite's' opening shot, a compact glass window gazing upward from a basement house to the sight on a narrow winding street, set the visual language of the film solidly, right at the beginning of the film.
There are a lot more such shots that allegorically pass on the social and financial difference that is the focal theme of this film. Particularly the utilization of narrow stairs going up and down, squeezed spaces versus lavish, open green yards, lusciously and exquisitely spread out lush organic fruit slices rather than a clumsily loaded plate of food from a neighbourhood kitchen.
The Plot
Image Credit: Pinterest
If we put all 4 of our salaries together? The amount of cash coming from that house is immense!
-Ki-taek
Chronically unemployed, penniless, and, above all, hopeless, Ki-taek and his equally unmotivated-unambitious family—his supportive wife, Chung-sook; his skeptical twenty something daughter, Ki-jung; and his college-age son, Ki-woo—occupy themselves in their poverty - stricken basement-level apartment by working for peanuts.
The brilliant way in which the poor family (a mother, father, teenage son, and daughter) manages to wrangle themselves into the positions they do is striking and never leaves you feeling cheated or that plausibility is being challenged.
This is a compelling aspect of the story, and you find yourself cheering for the characters who are actually doing the "wrong thing" here.
Then, by sheer fate, an enticing opportunistic business proposal will pave the way for an ingeniously deceitful scheme, as Ki-woo musters the courage to pose as an English tutor for the wealthy privileged Park family's teenage daughter.
The framework probably stands for a never-ending winner-take-all class war and politics of envy. How does one get rid of a parasite?
Psychological Analysis
Image Credit: Know Your Meme
“Money is an iron.”
-Chung-sook
When the film uses power and intellect to target structures of class and wealth, it is at its best. Due to the widening difference between the wealthy and the poor, Joon Ho acts as an observer of a mutant and degenerate society. it is the whole world that he is looking at here in the eyes.
I also found that the movie began and ended with the same window clip. It seemed to me to portray a loop, in that these actions would eventually continue to occur in society, making you think.
The Right Balance
It keeps clinging to me. Do I fit in here?
-Ki-woo
The balance between the two groups of people is what I like most about Parasite. There is no such thing as a true hero or villain. It has a strong sense of balance to it. All they have to do has a meaning, and it all makes sense.
The poor family is the most entertaining, while the wealthy are more reserved. Those guys must work harder to obtain their goals, while the other has everything.
Parasite is a slow burn that builds up to a climax before slamming into you. The tension continues to rise, and the tempo remains steady as well. It draws you in slowly and doesn't let go. It isn't at all monotonous.
The first and second acts are identical, but the third act takes a steep turn, and it's fantastic. This is not a horror film, but it was frightening because it felt real, and you feel for the characters.
The Cast, Technical and Directional Analysis
The Cast:
Song Kang-Ho as Kim Ki-taek
Lee Sun-Kyun as Park Dong-ik
Cho Yeo-jeong as Yeon-kyo ( Mr. Park's wife )
Choi Woo-shik as Ki-woo ( Ki-taek's son )
Park So-dam as Ki-jung ( Ki-taek's daughter )
Lee Jung-eun as Moon-gwang
Chang Hyae-jin as Chung-sook ( Ki-taek's wife )
Parasite builds and builds to a fantastic conclusion that works well enough. It takes talent to keep the seemingly unwieldy plot elements together, but writer/director Bong Joon-Ho not only creates a credible story, but also manages to end it with a satisfying but clever direction. It's a film that keeps you guessing until the final credits roll.
Perhaps it helps that this is a fantastically acted film, with Kang-ho Song and Woo-sik Choi standing out in particular. Sometimes, the performance needs to be understated, dialogue-free, and focused on a single reaction that accomplishes more than an exposition-heavy scene. Both of these actors, as well as the rest of the cast, make it work in their favour.
From the first to the last minute, Parasite is a marvel, thanks in large part to the behind-the-scenes brainiacs who excel in the technical aspects of the film, such as production design, cinematography, and score. There is nothing in the movie to be discarded.
Quirky Highlights from the Movie
Image Credit: The Guardian
People who ride the subway have a special smell.
-Dong-ik
Image Credit: Robert Ebert
No, no, it’s not that. What is it? Like an old radish. No. You know when you boil a rag? It smells like that.
-Dong-ik
Image Credit: Indiewire
What you need is vigor. It’s so metaphorical. It’s really strong. The perspective of a young artist eludes understanding.
-Ki-woo
Image Credit: Twitter
Rich people are naive. No resentments. No creases on them.
-Ki-taek
Image Credit: Neon
Don't call me sis, you filthy b*tch!
-Moon-gwang
Image Credit: Pinterest
What happened that day doesn’t seem real.
-Ki-taek
The Bottom Line
“Take care until then.”
Eventually, Parasite is a film that benefits from a large pool of talent pooled together for the same project. Without ever losing sight of its intent, the film produces a torrent of emotions ranging from laughter to tears to massive stress. Parasite is both a luxury and a substantial film.
If you haven't seen this film yet but enjoy films that challenge the intellect, you should. You'll be praised for your experience.
My ratings for the movie- 4.8 on 5
Written By- Prakriti Chaudhary
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