Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Woo-sik Choi, So-dam Park, Jeong-eun Lee, Hye-jin Jang, Ji-hye Lee, Ji-so Jung, Myeong-hoon Park, Seo-joon Park, Keun-rok Park
Description: All unemployed, Ki-taek and his family take peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks, as they integrate themselves into their lives and get entangled in an unexpected incident.
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 6: A MOVIE EVERYONE HAS SEEN BUT YOU
Review: South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho has been an established name in international film circles for years. Bong made his debut in 2000 with “Barking Dogs Never Bite”, but broke through in 2003 with the police thriller/comedy “Memories of Murder”. After that, he established his name with films like “The Host”, “Mother” and the English-language films “Snowpiercer” and “Okja”. With his latest film “Parasite” he won a Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, the most renowned film award in the world. “Parasite” is a layered and successful satire on South Korean class society that could have taken place in any capitalist society. Hilarious, unpredictable and not to be missed.
As in most of his film, Bong combines dark comedy with layered social criticism and a popular genre. It’s really hard to define just one genre for this film and it’s best to know as little as possible about “Parasite” before watching it. Because at first, it seems like a light hearted comedy, but it transforms into something completely different. And you realize it after it has already happened.
The premise seems simple: the poor Kim family live in a small basement-like apartment and can barely keep their head above water. Son Ki-Woo gets a unique possibility. An old schoolfriend of his is traveling to go to college and asks Ki-Woo to take over his tutoring job for the teenage daughter of the wealthy Park family. When he is accepted by the family, he manages to find a way to get his sister and his parents a job for the family. All under different names and they must not know they are related. His sister Ki-Jeong becomes the young son’s art teacher, father Ki-Taek becomes their driver and mother Chun-Sook gets a job as the new housekeeper.
The first act of the film is really funny, even hilarious at times. On one hand because of the way in which the Kims lie and deceive the Parks and allow the rich Parks to do so because they have become alienated from the world thanks to their wealth, and are purely focused on and within themselves. On the other hand, the implementation of Ki-Woo's plan works like a kind of heist film, including forging documents, costumes and coming up with convincing background stories. The Kims, however, do not rob a bank, but provide themselves with well-paid jobs in order to finally make a bit of a normal living. They can even afford wifi instead of having to steal it from their upstairs neighbors, which can only be received above their toilet.
With this given alone, “Parasite” would have been a successful film, but there is a turning point in the film (which I will not mention). This makes the film even better and more surprising and it keeps surprising until the end credits start rolling. Director Bong doesn’t only do this with an excellently and very well-crafted script, but also with visual metaphors, two fantastic set pieces and an outstanding cast.
And of course with the ancient contradictions between rich and poor. The Kims may be the crooks, but compared to the Parks they remain the sympathetic underdog. Until that turning point, after which everyone's world changes forever. Water plays an important role in “Parasite” and is masterfully used by Bong to emphasize the differences between the Parks and the Kims. But as the English saying goes: 'blood is thicker than water'.
“Parasite” is a must-see for every movie fan, because it will definitely be an unforgettable movie experience.
Rating: 5 / 5
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