Movie review – Parasite ( a Korean Film): A lower-class family, the Kims, takes an interest in the wealthy family Parks. Kim-Woo gets an offer to work there as an English tutor and comes up with a plan to integrate his relatives.
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Writers: Bong Joon Ho, Jin Won Han
Cast: Kang-ho Song, Sun-Kyun Lee, Yeo-Jeong Jo, Kim Ki-Jung
Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho
This is the first film I’ve seen from Bo Joon Ho. I wasn’t aware of who he really is.
Some of you may have seen “Snowpiercer,” a movie he wrote and directed. He also made “Okja,” a Netflix movie and “The host.” In the last few decades, he established himself as a noteworthy foreign director.
Parasite rose in popularity among movie lovers around the world. It’s a unique movie and is incomparable to others. And, it managed to have an Oscar nomination for “best picture.”
Other Oscar nominations: Directing, Film Editing, Internation Feature Film, Production Design, Writing (Original Screenplay)
With that portfolio, I’m sure we will hear from him again, and I will know who he is.
Rich vs. Poor
We’re watching two different types of families on screen. One is wealthy “the Parks,” and the others are trying to scam them by having them all work for the wealthy family, Kim Family.
No, it’s not a battle between the upper and lower classes. Instead, it’s more about their perception of things, the way of living.
The poor family isn’t only lower class, but they also live “lower” in the city. So when it starts raining, their whole neighborhood is going to flood, while the upper-class family thinks it beautiful up there.
The use of smell is also a portrayal of the rich and poor. According to the “Parks,” the people of the poor neighborhoods have a particular odor. It gave us a sentiment of the Parks feeling superior.
This doesn’t mean the Parks are bad people or are regarded as villains. We just start to understand why less fortunate people would detest them.
“Parasite” is a movie about the differences between social classes, their dilemmas, and moral compasses but all treated from a different angle.
One quote that stuck me with is:
They’re nice because they’re rich
Bong Joon Ho made sure to deliver us a critique of the different classes. In this film, the Kims can act terrible towards someone, but it’s all to survive. While the rich already have everything.
A screen full of details
The directing style looks simple but is very effective.
This is not a critique of his filming technique. It’s maybe simplistic, but it’s also very artistic.
He immediately portrays the Kims in the opening sequence as inferior and weak with excellent camera work. The first shot is on the closed windows going lower to introduce us to our first character, “Kim Woo.” This was the first sign of telling us, they’re from a lower class. When Kim-Woo starts moving, the camera films him slightly higher, making him seem smaller, therefore “weak.”
And there are many more camera angles to portray strengths and weaknesses.
Even the use of light has extra meaning in “Parasite.” It is used when a character goes to the Parks, as they’re finding a path into the light, a better future, a better place.
We can all agree that Bon Joo Hong is a talented guy that knows how to use different techniques. Props to you, sir!
Conclusion
The Korean Film Parasite is brilliant piece of art. It’s well written and shines in cinematography. And is giving us a lesson on perception between different classes.
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