Parasite Review
After months of anticipation and dodging spoilers online, I finally got to see Parasite, a movie that took not just the Oscars but the whole world by storm. From the very first scene, I knew I was diving into something more than a simple film. Parasite is not just a narrative; it's a social dissection. It places you right in the heart of the lives of two starkly different families and the intricate dynamics between them. As the story plays out, you're left contemplating the underlying themes: social disparity, class struggle, and the disturbing reality of a world divided. The beauty of Parasite lies in its ambiguity, allowing each viewer to derive their unique interpretations and conclusions about its socio-political commentary.
The film opens with the Kim family, living in a semi-basement, scavenging for Wi-Fi, and folding pizza boxes for a meagre living. This introduction captures their humour, resilience, and the everyday struggles of life in the lower classes of society. Then enters the wealthy Park family, living in an architecturally magnificent house, fully immune to the struggles the Kims grapple with daily. The clever, almost parasitic, maneuvering of the Kims to integrate into the Park household provides comic relief and heightens the drama. This dynamic contrast between the two families lays the groundwork for an unpredictable series of events that exposes the stark class divide; something we should probably pay more attention to. The characters in this movie are a masterclass in depth and complexity. Every character, regardless of screen time, is thoughtfully crafted and they all symbolize different aspects of society. Ki-woo, played by the exceptional Choi Woo-shik, personifies the ambitious youth trapped in societal constraints, while the mother, Chung-sook, portrayed by the outstanding Jang Hye-jin, embodies resilience. However, it is Song Kang-ho, who steals the show as Ki-taek, the father figure whose tough exterior masks a man grappling with his reality.
The Park family's portrayal is equally nuanced. Yeon-kyo, played by Jo Yeo-jeong, is not a mere caricature of the clueless wealthy housewife, but a woman navigating her privileged world with her insecurities. The enigmatic housekeeper Moon-gwang, portrayed by Lee Jung-eun, delivers a haunting performance, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. Parasite takes a sharp turn midway, delivering a gut-punch that shakes you to your core. The movie's climax, set against a picturesque backdrop, descends into an unforgettable sequence of events. A beautifully orchestrated chaos that keeps you guessing, questioning the unfolding reality. The build-up to this climax, with the film's remarkable use of visual metaphors and sound, completely engulfs you in its atmospheric storytelling and the intricate emotional landscapes of its characters.
One of the things that made this movie so captivating for me was, even though the storyline is quite ominous, gloomy, and somewhat dark, I was completely drawn in from the beginning to the end. No other movie has ever given me such a rush of adrenaline. I believe that Bong Joon-ho achieved this by beautifully executing his filmmaking technique. As Bong wrote the script, he made mock-ups of the houses. After paying close attention, I noticed that there were front-facing windows in each house that mirrored the windows in the neighboring house. The poor family's window is small, and they can see a drunken man urinating. An expansive window was built for the rich family which faces a lovely garden. The poor family also lives underground while the rich family lives on a high hill. Bong used High and Low shots to engage the Kim family. We look up at the son as the tutor, and the perspective flips. It was Kyung-pyo's lighting, as well as Bong's framing and shooting style, that helped convey the tone of the film very effectively for me. A lack of sunshine intensified the contrast between the rich and poor which Kyung pyo played with as a way to draw attention to the differences between the rich and the poor. Most of the interior of the rich family's mansion is bathed in warm, natural light throughout the day. Only a small window lets sunlight into the poor family's basement.
One other thing that truly stayed with me long after Parasite ended was how it presented social disparity in an ingenious and haunting style. The film is brilliant in the way it holds up a mirror to society, forcing us to confront uncomfortable realities that we often ignore. Even though I believe movies that deal with such issues of classism and social injustice often don't convey a larger message for a better world, Parasite still stands out for its frank and accurate portrayal of the human condition.
Like an intricate piece of art, Parasite demands reflection and introspection. Its genius lies in its moral ambivalence, refraining from spoon-feeding answers, thereby compelling its viewers to question, analyze, and understand the complex layers of societal structures. Much like life, there isn't an absolute right or wrong, good or evil in Parasite; it’s a compelling reflection of the shades of grey we live in. Director Bong Joon-ho masterfully raises difficult questions about class division, survival, and the human condition but leaves the interpretations to the viewer.
Only and only because of my love for feel-good movies, I give this movie a score of 9.5/10 :)













