This post is spoiler free
“Parasite” is a box-office hit focusing on the newly formed relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, The Palm d’Or winner made history this month. By winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, it became the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award recognition as well as being the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. Now, these aren’t the only awards won by that film, but that aside, a movie so critically acclaimed is bound to be good. Or is it? After a trip to my local cinema, I found some things worth noting.
First, I want to talk about the comedy embodied in the movie. Indeed, through the whole film, you can find bits of funny gags to keep the atmosphere moving, it gives the movie a deceivingly light-hearted feeling for a moment as if disconnecting you from the unsettling reality of the movies without making that reality completely disappear. In fact, we can almost say that it gives that reality in question a feel of absurdity for a moment which definitely gives a good laugh. In addition, looking at the bigger picture, the film is laced with satire and irony, whether it’s the whole movie itself or a certain situation, it never fails to make Bong Joon-ho’s messages reach its audience.
That brings us to our second point, the movie is full of interesting messages. We can clearly see that we have a very well build social critique shown through the satiric aspects of the movie. More precisely, Bong Joon-ho builds his movie around a critique of capitalism and it’s effects on us as humans and as a society. It definitely leaves us thinking about the way we are currently living in a different light.
Another thing that plays into our reception of the movie and its message, is the immersive experience provided by the South Korean movie. Indeed, everything about the movie tries to get us more and more absorbed with the scenes unfolding in front of us. Everything from the smooth cinematography to the music reflects the ambiance and events currently taking place on the screen in front of us. Furthermore, the scenery and the great acting really makes us feel as if everything happening is somehow real. This movie leaves us feeling as if we were involved with what was happening.
In the end, we could say that the parasite is a good movie. Bong Joon-ho and everyone who worked on this movie used a very interesting and entertaining way to catch the viewer’s attention and send the message they wanted to deliver. Though art is subjective and this movie might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I would say it is worth watching to find out.
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