Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won and co-produced. The film follows a poor family who schemes to become employed by a wealthy family, infiltrating their household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.
The film explores themes of poverty, wealth, and class discrimination. The Kims, who are poor, scheme to become employed by the wealthy Park family by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.
The film has received critical acclaim and has been described as a "masterpiece". It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Overall, Parasite is a critically acclaimed film that explores themes of poverty, wealth, and class discrimination through a black comedy thriller lens.
Plot
The plot of Parasite revolves around the Kim family, who are living in poverty. The son, Ki-woo, gets an opportunity to pose as an English tutor for the wealthy Park family's daughter. Through a series of schemes, the Kims gradually infiltrate the lives of the Parks by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. The film explores themes of greed, class discrimination, and the consequences of social inequality. The story takes a dark turn as the Kims become embroiled in a series of mishaps and a winner-take-all class war, leading to a tragic and violent climax. The film's plot is a commentary on the contrast between the rich and the poor, as well as the injustice of inequality and the rigid class divide. The narrative is known for its unexpected twists and turns, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the film.
Cast
- Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek
- Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik
- Cho Yeo-jeong as Yeon-kyo
- Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo
- Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung
- Jang Hye-jin as Kim Chung-sook
- Park Myung-hoon as Oh Geun-sae
- Lee Jung-eun as Gook Moon-gwang
These actors play the members of the Kim family and the Park family, who are the main characters in the film. Song Kang-ho, who plays Kim Ki-taek, is a well-known South Korean actor who has appeared in numerous films, including "Memories of Murder" and "The Host". Lee Sun-kyun, who plays Park Dong-ik, is also a well-known South Korean actor who has appeared in films such as "A Hard Day" and "Paju". Cho Yeo-jeong, who plays Yeon-kyo, is a popular South Korean actress who has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas. Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam, who play Kim Ki-woo and Kim Ki-jung respectively, are both rising stars in South Korea. Jang Hye-jin, who plays Kim Chung-sook, is a veteran actress who has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas. Park Myung-hoon, who plays Oh Geun-sae, and Lee Jung-eun, who plays Gook Moon-gwang, both deliver memorable performances in their supporting roles.
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Writer: Bong Joon Ho, Han Jinwon
Box Office Gross: $262,697,423
Distributor: Neon
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2019
Themes
The main themes of Parasite are class conflict, social inequality, and wealth disparity. The film is a commentary on the contrast between the rich and the poor, the injustice of inequality, and the rigid class divide between the rich elite and the majority.
Reception
Parasite has received critical acclaim and has been praised for its genre-bending qualities, as it incorporates elements of comedy, mystery, thriller, drama, romance, crime, and horror. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making it the first non-English language film to win the award.
Challenges faced
The director, Bong Joon-ho, and his team faced several challenges during the production of Parasite. One of the biggest challenges was designing the house where most of the film takes place. The team had to build a three-story set that could be flooded with rainwater and had to be able to withstand the weight of the actors and crew.
Settings
Most of the film takes place in the house of the wealthy Park family, which was designed to be a character in itself. The house was built on a set and was designed to be a modernist architectural masterpiece with a minimalist aesthetic.
Visual styles & techniques
The film uses several visual styles and techniques to convey its themes and messages. One of the most notable techniques is the use of stairs as a metaphor for social mobility and class conflict. The film also uses a variety of camera angles and movements to create tension and suspense.
Trivia and fun facts
- Parasite is the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
- The film's title, "Parasite," refers to the way the Kim family infiltrates the lives of the Park family, but it also has a broader meaning that refers to the way the rich exploit the poor.
- The film's director, Bong Joon-ho, has said that he was inspired by the true story of a Korean family who lived in a bunker for several years to avoid debt collectors.
- The film's cast and crew celebrated their historic win at the Academy Awards by drinking soju and singing karaoke.