🎬 Overview
Parasite is a dark comedy thriller film released in 2019 from South Korea. It was directed by Bong Joon-ho and co-written with Han Jin-won. The film received global acclaim, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and becoming the first non-English film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It also won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film.
With shocking humor infused with tragic elements, Parasite displays class struggle with razor sharp social commentary woven throughout its multi-genre plot. It features two families, the lavishly wealthy Parks and the dirt poor Kims, as their lives intertwine in the most unexpected and complex ways.
📘 Plot Summary
The story focuses on the Kim family who reside in a semi-basement apartment in Seoul. The family includes father Ki-taek, mother Chung-sook, and their children Ki-jung and Ki-woo. Their economically desperate situation forces them to complete countless odd jobs such as folding pizza boxes and scavenging for Wi-Fi.
The opportunity comes when Min-hyuk, a friend of Ki-woo’s, offers him a position as a tutor using fake college credentials to teach the daughter of a rich family, the Parks. When he goes to the Park’s home which is wonderfully luxurious, Ki-woo impresses Mrs. Park and starts working as “Kevin.” He then strategically gets his sister, Ki-jung, hired as an art therapist for the Parks’ son Da-song, pretending she is an unrelated professional called “Jessica.”
The plan goes further as they orchestrate the firing of the family’s driver and housemaid, replacing them with the Kim family—father and mother—who keep their familial ties to the Kims and Parks hidden. The Kim family is now completely integrated into the Park household and they appear to be flourishing.
The film shifts with the returning Moon-gwang, the former housekeeper, showing up at the Park house during a rainstorm claiming she left something behind. She opens a concealed bunker beneath the house where her husband Geun-sae, has been secretly living to avoid his debt collectors for years. This revelation brings to light the Kims’ con, leading to the families’ intense conflict.
When worsening precursors mount, conflict ignites at a celebration for the son of Park family. Geun-sae breaks out of the basement and in a wild lunge of sorrow, kills Ki-jung, injuring several others in the process. Ki-taek, out of humiliation and fury at the condescending attitude of the Parks, murders Mr. Park and escapes.
As for the rest, Ki-woo is injured but manages to survive. Interestingly, he learns that his father is hiding in the concealed bunker. The film closes on a somewhat cheerful yet depressing note where Ki-woo imagines buying the Park house and reuniting with his father. The stark reality of their affliction suggests otherwise.
👥 Cast & Characters
Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek: He is the father of the Kim family, resourceful but increasingly disillusioned by his socioeconomic limitations.
Jang Hye-jin as Chung-sook: The mother. She is practical and strong-willed. She adapts quickly to the roles required in the con.
Choi Woo-shik as Ki-woo (Kevin): The son whose ambition to rise in society, instigates the plot.
Park So-dam as Ki-jung (Jessica): The daughter, confident and intelligent. She performs her part with great zeal.
Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik: The father of the Park family, he is a wealthy tech CEO.
Cho Yeo-jeong as Mrs. Park: Naive and impressionable, a victim of the Kim family’s machinations.
Lee Jung-eun as Moon-gwang: The housekeeper whose return incites the dark unraveling of the plot’s secrets.
Park Myung-hoon as Geun-sae: He embodies the deepest economic despair as Moon-gwang’s husband.
🎥 Direction, Style & Cinematography
Bong Joon-ho’s direction is meticulous and multi-layered, balancing tone so that Parasite flows seamlessly between comedy, drama, and horror. The film’s visual storytelling is overflowing with symbolism, particularly the stark architectural contrast between the Kims’ underground hovel and the Parks’ sun-drenched mansion, serves as a metaphor for social stratification.
Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo’s treatment of space is exemplary, employing tight framing and strategic blocking to tell a story. The depiction of vertical motion—descending into basements and ascending to luxury homes—reinforces class hierarchy.
📚 Themes & Analysis
- Class Division
The primary focus of Parasite is the gap between the upper class and the lower class. The Kim family’s infiltration of the Park household is not merely a scheme, but rather an attempt to break free from a rigid class structure. Regardless of their attempts, the Kims are constantly reminded of their position in society, especially by the Parks’ subtle disdain toward their “smell.”
- Capitalism and Desperation
Bong Joon-ho critiques the capitalist system that perpetuates inequality as well as the invisibility of certain groups. The Kim family’s deception stems from a lack of genuine employment opportunities. Although the Parks do not come across as overtly mean, they are completely oblivious to the plight of those subordinated to them.
- Deception and Identity
Masks conceal the true identity of each individual, as all characters in this piece put on a facade. The Kims assume the roles of professionals with impressive credentials, while the Parks masquerade as magnanimous and liberally minded gracious hosts. This duality reveals the extent to which individuals are willing to lie for survival or to maintain social status.
- Hope and Illusion
Ki-woo reciting his final monologue demonstrates the cruel optimism of the underprivileged. While his plans to purchase the house and liberate his father are heartwarming, they are most likely illusory. The ending showcases how the pursuit of social mobility is unrealistic.
🎭 Performances
The ensemble cast delivers exceptional performances, with Song Kang-ho standing out for his nuanced portrayals of the characters in the father’s role that is gradually losing hope. Park So-dam and Choi Woo-shik bring youthful energy and humor, while Cho Yeo-jeong combines comic naïveté and dramatic weight. The chemistry among the cast is organic and enhances the suspension of disbelief with both families.
📈 Critical and Cultural Impact
Parasite received overwhelming critical acclaim, praised for its storytelling, direction, and thematic depth. It emerged as a global phenomenon, transcending language barriers and disproving non-English films potential to connect with mainstream audiences.
Its success marked a turning point for international cinema and showcased the potential for cross-cultural storytelling during a time of increased cultural convergence.
Beyond its numerous accolades, the film ignited conversations around the world about inequality, the housing crisis, and social justice, particularly in major urban centers.
🧭 Conclusion
Parasite stands as more than a thriller or a dark comedy; it serves as a profound social critique examining the invisible yet monumental barriers separating classes. With masterful direction, brilliant performances, and skillful storytelling, the film exposes society’s bitter truths wrapped in sharp wit and graceful elegance.
The film’s intricate structure guarantees that every rewatch uncovers new symbols, motifs, and meanings. It serves as a masterpiece that entertains, disturbs, and incites reflection simultaneously.
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