Parasite (2019 film)
Plot
"Parasite" is a South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film starts with the Kim family, who live in a semi-basement apartment, and struggle to make ends meet by folding pizza boxes for a local restaurant. The family consists of the father, Ki-taek, the mother, Chung-sook, and their adult children, Ki-woo and Ki-jung.
One day, Ki-woo's friend Min-hyuk visits and offers him a chance to tutor the daughter of the wealthy Park family, Da-hye, as he is planning to study abroad. Min-hyuk gifts the Kim family a scholar's rock, which is supposed to bring wealth to its owner. Ki-woo forges a university diploma and gets the job. He then learns about the Parks' young son, Da-song, who needs an art tutor. Ki-woo recommends his sister, Ki-jung, for the job, who also forges her credentials to get hired.
The Kims then scheme to get the rest of the family employed by the Parks. They get the chauffeur fired by making it appear as if he had sex in the car, and Ki-taek is hired as the new driver. They then get the housekeeper, Moon-gwang, fired by pretending she has tuberculosis, and Chung-sook is hired as the new housekeeper.
Themes and Analysis
"Parasite" explores themes of class disparity, social inequality, and the illusion of meritocracy. The film uses the metaphor of the semi-basement apartment to represent the Kims' social status - not completely underground, but not quite above ground either. The Parks' modernist house, on the other hand, symbolizes their elevated social status.
The scholar's rock, a gift from Min-hyuk, is a symbol of wealth and prosperity, but it also becomes a symbol of the Kims' desperation and the illusion of upward mobility. The rock is supposed to bring wealth, but it ultimately brings disaster.
The film also uses the motif of smell to highlight class differences. The Parks often comment on the smell of the Kims, which is a result of their semi-basement apartment. This smell becomes a symbol of their lower-class status that they cannot escape, no matter how much they try to fit into the world of the Parks.
Reception and Impact
"Parasite" received widespread critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction, and performances. It won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first South Korean film to do so. It also won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, making it the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or and the first non-English language film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
The film's success has led to increased interest in South Korean cinema, and it has sparked discussions about social inequality and class conflict. It has also influenced popular culture, with references to the film appearing in various media.