Parasite (2019)

Usually when I watch a film long after its release, it never surpasses the preconceptions I had however Parasite exceeded all of my expectations like no other film has. From it’s exhilarating story line, to stunning cinematography and incredible acting.

It was no surprise when Parasite won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. The black comedy in the first act was perfect for the tone as we followed the poor Kim family in their attempt to infiltrate the wealthy Park family. This simple sounding premise was demonstrated in such a unique way. Despite the thriller genre of this film, Parasite is extremely funny. I love how Bong Joonho purposely made the audience laugh while simultaneously making us feel guilt for doing so.

The cinematography in Parasite works hand in hand with the plot. The “Peach Montage” is a perfect example. The sequence flows like a choreographed dance which is a great parallel to the choreographed mission that takes place. Combined with the music, it makes for the perfect montage. The flawless pace of this sequence just solidifies Joonho as the genius director he is. There are many other stunning shots in this film that perfectly tell the story on their own.

After an event in the film, during the second act, there was a sudden shift in tone as every following scene had me full of anticipation. I have never seen a film that built tension as well as Bong Joonho did with Parasite.

The visuals showing the lower-class Kim family literally living below the upper-class Park family was very clever. I love the way Joonho explored the narrative of upper-class families’ ignorance towards the lower-class. The question of who was the parasite can be answered in many ways which is another example of Bong Joonho’s genius. While the Kim family is leeching off of the Parks wealth, the Parks are also leeching off of the lower-class as they see themselves as superior. The Park mother, Yeonkyu, calling the storm “a blessing in disguise” while many poor families including the Kim’s homes were flooded, was a great illustration of this.

The cast all played their roles perfectly but the stand out actor to me was Park Sodam who played the Kim daughter, Kijung. Her performance was astonishing and her character was incredible. I successfully avoided any spoilers for this film and I very glad I did because the shocking plot twists were what made me truly love this film. Parasite really is a masterpiece and I would give it 10 stars out of 10 if I could.