"Parasite" is a film that follows 10 main characters up close (8 of whom are shown below - the other two are not shown for obvious reasons which will become apparent after you have witnessed the movie) with 10 different "characteristics" that need to be captured in the frame - the looks, the personality, the deep pathos that oozes from each character's situation and by giving us . describe ki-jung. His thoughtless comments were slowly building up resentment in Mr Kim, and further amplified the divide between the two families. For a moment, it seems as though the jig is up for the Kims as Mr Park is suspicious about the entire situation, but he foolishly chalks up the forgotten panties as a result of the chauffeur taking illegal drugs. The musty smell follows Ki-Jung wherever she visits, revealing her poverty. Interests smoking. It perfectly encapsulated each moment of the film, whether it was absurdist humour, dark humour, escalating tension, or setting the tone for future revelations. Living in a musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. He has always been fascinated by pop culture and film. She returns to the house to check on her husband, who is living in a secret subterranean bunker. For years the country has been producing some of the finest films and directors in the world of cinema, but Parasite has crossed new milestones in terms of global impact. She is seamless in her execution and rarely makes a misstep. Ki-woo wakes up in the hospital and learns about what happens. However, to qualify for the job, Ki-Woo must forge his identity from a man in his mid-20s with no formal education to a student studying business at an elite university. Guen-sae manages to get the jump on Ki-woo after he fails to murderGuen-sae with the rock given by Min. Mr Kim is the most nonchalant about their misfortunes, even as their house is flooded, leaving the Kims homeless. And what do we do when we see an actual masterpiece in this era of critics crying wolf? Parasite Summary The film starts with the Kim family, a South Korean family struggling with poverty in a poor neighborhood in an unnamed city. He takes a liking to Ki-jeong and trusts her, but unjustifiably suffers the most at the hands of Moon-kwangs family and the Kim family, suffering two seizures resulting from shock. Has also tied the record with Walt Disney for most Oscars awarded to an individual at a single ceremony. He has the hardest part to play in getting rid of Moon-gwang. Bong's designs included many staircases in the home that help the wealthy characters disappear off into their own spaces or can be used by the members of the poor family. Improving the family's financial situation is the most important goal for Ki-Woo, and he remains hopeful of his future. At the party, Ki-woo decides to head back down into the basement with the fortune rock, likely intending to end Moon-kwang and her husbands lives. I think that everyone, particularly the Kim family and Moon-kwangs family, showed parasitic behaviour. When a fluke of luck gets the son, Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik), a job as an English tutor for the wealthy Park familys daughter, the lives of the two families start to intertwine in comedic, dramatic, and eventually, disastrous ways. As the end credits began to roll, the tension in the cinema was palpable. In contrast to her brother Ki-Woo, Ki-Jung is too well-grounded to look for a potential love interest. Youve never seen a movie quite like Parasite. Dammit. She is easily deceived by Ki-jeong's framing of the Park family chauffeur as explained by Dong-ik. Writing Exercise: Think about each character. What is Mumblecore? Parasite is directed by the South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho, who also directed the sci-fi action film Snowpiercer (which was among the highest-grossing films of all time in South Korea) and Okja (which has won multiple film awards and was also nominated for Palme dOr in 2017). These steps are involved in many of the films pivotal moments, including those in the gruesome final act. Mrs Kim taking advantage of the open lawn to practice her hammer-throw skills, at the expense of someones window. Bong Joon Ho's Oscar-contending "Parasite" masterfully explores class divisions in Korea with voyeuristic delight. "Korean dramas vary in terms of theme; from non-violent stories to very dynamic and violent stories." (Parc, J., & Moon, H.-C., 2013). There is more to Da-song than meets the eye. Cho Yeo-jeong He quickly convinces the mother Yeon-kyo, the excellent Jo Yeo-jeong, that the son of the house needs an art tutor, which allows Kevins sister Jessica (Park So-dam) to enter the picture. Ki-woo pens a letter to his father, fantasizing about his plan to go to college, secure a well-paying job and buy the Parks'. This review was filed from the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7th. in a middle-class home that was neither poor nor terribly wealthy. The Kim father and children quickly take cover as Mrs Kim decides to let Moon-kwang in. The wide panning shots do great in conveying a sense of space in the large Park residence, and sequence shots make the viewer feel as though they are there with the characters, watching their lives unfold. The brilliant set dressing of Parasite combined with the striking architectural-design choices perfectly reinforce the themes of the film, but more on the themes after we finish our Parasite summary. What they dont realise is the effects their actions have. RELATED: 5 Reasons Why HBO's Parasite Is A Good Idea (& 5 Why The Movie Should Be Left Alone). The use of smell in the film is a great analogy for how the Kims literally stink of poverty to the Parks. Parasite is Bong Joon Ho's newest flick, and it's dark, twisted, and totally fascinating. The musty smell follows Ki-Jung wherever she visits, revealing her poverty. The film constantly threatens to come apartto take one convoluted turn too many in ways that sink the projectbut Bong holds it all together, and the result is breathtaking. For a quick breakdown on satire, including a segment on Parasite, here's an explainer that will answer all your questions about how satire works. Kim Ki-woos life changes when a friend offers to recommend him as an English tutor for a girl hes been working with as the friend has to go out of the country for a while. When Da-song wants to sleep in a tent outside, Mr. and Mrs. Park sleep on the couch to watch over him. When a writer does their best, digging deep into their characters, tapping into their souls, the players in our stories magically lift up off the printed page and come to life in a readers imagination. One set of stairs descends to the central Kim familys dingy semi-basement apartment in modern-day Seoul, while another ascends to the front door of the ultrawealthy Park family, for whom the cash-strapped Kims work. The smell won't go away unless we leave this place.". Ki-taek may be out of work, but he's no dummy. The original housekeeper, Moon-gwang (Lee Jung Eun), displaced by the scheme, turns up at the home while the Parks are away and begs the Kims to allow her husband, Geun-se (Park Myeong-hoon), to continue living there after they discover him. Of the Kim family members, she is the most talented scammer. He is a violent and desperate man, and ends up going on a killing spree after the Kims kill his wife, Moon-gwang. Their credentials were just as questionable as hers were. Ki-jeong manages to gain the trust of the young Da-song, and was even the last person to show compassion towards Moon-kwang and her husband, offering to bring them food when theyre trapped in the basement. Min-hyuk is a friend to the Kim family, primarily Ki-woo. Perhaps he had just gone crazy, but choosing to go after more of the Kim family guaranteed that he would either be killed himself or that he'd land behind bars. The Analysis of the Oscar-Winning Movie: Parasite Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller movie directed by Bong Joon-ho and is the first film with a non-English script to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020. Blood is shed and deaths are cast at the birthday party of the Park familys youngest child. Not only does he have to create suspicion about her, but he has to then convince Yeon-gyo to dispose of Moon-gwang without actually advocating for it. She is also too easily swayed by Ki-taek's fakery of Moon-gwang's supposed tuberculosis diagnosis. The crimes of Moon-kwang and her husband are obvious too, leeching off the Park familys wealth to harbour the husband in the house, and threatening to out the Kims for their scam despite their own complicity. Mr Kims face as he picks up the tissue stained with blood from the dustbin. I was disappointed to find that not many people had done an in-depth analysis on the film, but thats what Im here for! Though Parasite cannot be confined to a single genre, it centers its focus on class struggle, a sort of precursor to the warfare of Bongs 2013 thriller Snowpiercer. The staircases represent divisions of class and power the Kims wonder upon wandering upstairs whether, in a just world, they would also belong among the rich, so far above ground; upon descending to their flooded apartment in a storm that merely throws off the Parks camping trip, the Kims are reminded of the disparities between the two families. Moon-kwang eventually succumbs to a concussion, leading to her husband desperately smashing his head into the light switches in the bunker to signal Help me in Morse code. Synopsis. If he is ever caught, he may suffer the death penalty for committing a murder. Like the Park family's young boy, Ki-Woo used to be a Scout as a child. Ki-taek, the father, begins working as the Park family chauffeur after the Kims have removed their previous chauffeur from his position, and similarly Chung-sook, the mother, replaces Moon-gwang, the housekeeper who has served the home longer than the Parks have even lived there. The flooding sequence, as depicted on the poster, also illustrates how the wealthy are unaffected by many of the debilitating circumstances that affect the lower classes as they are, quite literally, above the trouble. Ki-Jung's family was much better off in her childhood when her father owned a cake shop. Moon-Gwangs return to the house and eventual reveal of the secret basement keeps us on the edges of our seats as viewers and seamlessly blends from the drama/comedy centered first half into the thriller/tragedy centered latter half. It is the only common factor between the Parks' young boy and Ki-Woo. Mr Kim manages to trap Moon-kwang and her husband in the basement and quickly returns to join his family hiding in the living room. Parasite Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) Living in a state-of-art mansion. Stay up to date on the news from Silicon Valley, and how to take back control of your data and devices. Director Bong Joon-Ho himself has described Parasite as a cross-genre film, dipping its toes into the regions of dark comedy, satire, thriller and family drama. Eventually, the Kims are able to escape, but when they return home, they find their apartment is completely flooded. Profession stay-at-home housekeeper. The film is packed with social commentary, thrilling moments, and plenty of meaty writing worthy of a full , FREE: StudioBinders Screenwriting Software , The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template), How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet), The Only Shot List Template You Need with Free Download, Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template), A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet, Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates), What is an Antagonist in a Story Definition & Examples, What is Telos: The Ultimate Guide to Understand Telos for Video Marketing, What is an Anecdote Definition, Examples, and Functions, What is a Memoir Definition, Examples in Literature & Film. Perhaps Ki-jeong being killed off was due to her death having the most significant impact on the family and on the viewer. I would LOVE to hear from other viewers on their theories on the film, so please feel free to share them with me. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Parasite by Bong Joon-ho. When Ki-woo goes into the basement, Geun-sae attacks him and bludgeons him in the head with the rock. Its here where we can finally analyse who is the parasite in the film, and who are the antagonists? Chung-sook is framed as deceiving the family by hiding a dangerous illness. This simple, comedic entry sets up the level of poverty that the Kim family faces. He stands in the woods near the Parks' house, which has been bought by Germans, and observes that the censor light is turning on and off in a patternMorse Code. Husband! as they descend into the depths of the bunker also do nothing to alleviate the building tension as we shockingly discover that her husband is in fact a mole person hiding and living right under the Parks noses and supplied food by Moon-kwang regularly, who even worships Mr Park for providing him with food and accommodation. The rock is ultimately Ki-woos downfall. I finally caught the highly raved-about film, Parasite, after hearing nothing but praise for the movie from anyone who watched it. Were here to help. Armed with a knife, he makes a beeline for the first member of the Kim family he can see Ki-jeong, as shes delivering Da-songs birthday cake to him on the lawn. Mr Park makes a comment about smelling Mr Kim (who, unbeknownst to him, is literally right under his nose), and complains about the smell that Mr Kim exudes. A third leads to the upper floor of the Parks stylish home. Parasite Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) Living in Park family's beautiful mansion in the wealthy neighborhoods of Seoul, South Korea. Now, the exquisite building is home to Yeon-Kyo, her husband Dong-Ik, and her two children. Ill do a spoiler-free review first, followed by an in-depth analysis, so dont scroll too far if youve not caught the movie. Kevin has a much deeper plan. But theres this: In a screenplay, characters exist for a reason. Yeon-Kyo enjoys a calm and relaxing life in the mansion. Its a conversation starter in ways we only get a few times a year, and further reminder that Bong Joon-ho is one of the best filmmakers working today. Parasite is a South Korean movie from 2019 filled with numerous themes, all being the fault of a patriarchal and hierarchical society we have created. Ki-woo pens a letter to his father, fantasizing about his plan to go to college, secure a well-paying job and buy the Parks old house so that his father can live freely. Today and maybe forever the Kims remain underground. Ki-woo as the Park daughters English tutor, Ki-jeong as the Park sons art tutor/therapist, Mr Kim as the familys chauffeur, and Mrs Kim as the housekeeper. Their quest for upward mobility is futile. Be sure to watch our video essay on the scene for more detail and deeper Parasite analysis. Managing to never get caught up to that point, though, was definitely a feat on its own merits, even if it was in a basement. No. More importantly, his failure to dispose of Geun-sae with the rock eventually proves to be not only his undoing but both the Park and Kim families alike. I left the cinema around 2am reeling and shookt, and was still desperately Googling and researching for the films reviews and analyses two hours later. Moon-kwangs husband, enraged at the Kim family for leaving Moon-kwang for dead, attacks Ki-woo by strangling him and striking him in the head with the very fortune rock that Ki-woo brought. The series of events that unfold are so atypical and subtly interconnected that its only after the film that you would start to recall the small hints of foreshadowing or plot lines set up earlier on in the film. 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