A film that I would say defies easy categorization is the film “Parasite.” Elements of comedy, drama, and suspense are elements perfectly blended into the film by its director Bong Joon-ho to create a gripping and thoughtful-provoking masterpiece. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, “Parasite” is a film that demands to be seen.
The film presents its viewers with a story of the Kim family, which is nuanced as poor living in a cramped basement apartment in Seoul. A tutoring job is offered to Ki-woo, which involves tutoring the daughter of a wealthy family, which raises eyebrows in Kim’s family, who see the opportunity to better their lives a lot. The Kim family infiltrates the wealthy Park family’s home, and they pose a variety of service personnel. They do achieve this through a series of clever manipulation and deceptions. To their surprise, things turn dark when a shocking revelation is made that surely threatens to unravel Kim’s carefully constructed façade. That was an interesting turnaround that got me off my seat.
The performances in “Parasite” are uniformly excellent. Song Kang-ho, who plays the patriarch of the Kim family, delivers a nuanced and powerful performance, showing both his character’s desperation and his cunning. Choi Woo-Shik, who plays Ki-woo, is also fantastic, showing his character’s ambition and growing guilt. And Park So-dam, who plays the Kims’ daughter, is a revelation, delivering a vulnerable and fierce performance.
“Parasite” to me comes close to holding the record for how it seamlessly weaves together several genres and themes. It is more complicated actually to do that. The film successfully makes a scathing critique of class inequality, actively highlighting the vast disparities between the haves and the have-nots in the modern-day world. Putting that aside, the film is also a gripping thriller that holds several heart-pounding sequences that will keep its viewers on the edge of their seats. The film achieves this using one of the most impressive aspects. The way it subverts audience expectations at every turn. It takes a sharp left turn when the viewers think they have the film figured out. This left me reeling. The film’s twisty plot is a perfect match for its innovative camerawork that uses tight spaces and unusual angles to heighten the sense of tension and claustrophobia.
It is important to notice that “Parasite” is not just a technically impressive film. Having a cast of characters who are both flawed and sympathetic, the film is a deeply human one. The Kim family, in particular, are a joy to watch, with their sly wit and resourcefulness making them incredibly endearing. On the other hand, the Park family presents themselves as an interesting foil, evident in their obliviousness to Kim’s struggles serving as a damning indictment of the upper classes.
In conclusion, the struggle for dignity and respect in a world that often denies dignity and respect to certain social classes is well depicted by the film “Parasite.” Yes, this film demands to be seen, not just for its technical brilliance but for its intelligent commentary on the human condition. If you’re looking for a film that will challenge your assumptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, “Parasite” is the movie for you. “Parasite” is a movie that deserves all the accolades it has received.
Works cited:
IMDb. (2019, May 30). Parasite. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/