Find out how you match to him and 5500+ other characters. Parasite was the first film since Marty in 1955 to win the top prize of both The Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. Improving the family's financial situation is the most important goal for Ki-Woo, and he remains hopeful of his future. I tried to avoid it. He notices the flickering light and deciphers a coded message from his father. How could they possibly compare to a couple leeching off the Parks like this? Dont buy eggs. After getting referred for a tutoring gig, he orchestrates a plan in which his whole family begins working for the same wealthy family. Its both a literal and metaphorical depiction of just how far removed the Park family and Kim familys circumstances are, and how far down the class divide the Kim family are from the Parks. During the hazing scene as the Kim family enjoy free fumigation services, Mr Kim is the only one visibly not affected by the toxic fumes. She gains the upper hand with Mrs. Park by feigning extreme expertise and confidence, and insisting on very specific ways to educate and take care of Da-song. Down in the basement is Geun-sae, Moon-gwang's husband, who is hiding from loan sharks there. This review was filed from the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7th. The film begins with the Kim family at home in their tiny, cramped basement apartment. Geun-sae then emerges onto the lawn party, stabbing Ki-jung in the chest with a knife. Find out how you match to her and 5500+ other characters. For more Parasite movie analysis, check out our article on how Bong Joon-ho creates meaning through set dressing. Ki-woo is the son of the Kim family, a smart and ambitious young man who feels held back by poverty. The next day, the Kim family is invited back to the Parks as they decide to throw a birthday party for Da-song. The rest of the family hides as Chung-sook lets her in and Moon-gwang reveals a bunker in the basement of the house, a lair that was installed by the architect who built it, and which even the Parks have no knowledge of. If he is ever caught, he may suffer the death penalty for committing a murder. But, probably because of his age, his parents don't take his observation very seriously, to their ultimate doom. The thought that the panties were placed their intentionally to sabotage the chauffeur did not even cross Mr Parks mind. This vertical comment on status is illustrated cleanly in this alternate poster for the film, without spoiling the sub-basement reveal. A highlight of the film for me that cannot go uncredited was the music and score. The local pizza shop informs the Kims that one in four of the pizza boxes they folded were faulty and could not be used. Yeon-Kyo enjoys a calm and relaxing life in the mansion. Through the analysis of the audio-visual language of the movie, this article starts with the storytelling of Parasite, enumerates and analyses the elements that appear in the movie to reflect the gap between the rich and poor. *SPOILER WARNING* Major, major spoilers ahead! Geun-se worshiped Mr. Park and his professional success but continued to live beneath him. Today and maybe forever the Kims remain underground. These themes cross all cultural-barriers and can speak to the 99% anywhere in the world. 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). Very soon, the Kims also manage to displace the longstanding housekeeper to make room for Mrs Kim to join the operation. The films accolades speak for itself it won the prestigious Palme dOr award at this years Cannes Film Festival, which is an award of the highest order at one of the worlds most renowned film festivals. Once the entire Kim family is employed in the Park household, the lower-class con-artists begin to assume more and more of this fabricated identity of wealth. When Ki-taek throws the keys, they land under Geun-sae, who is fighting with Chung-sook. Now, the exquisite building is home to Yeon-Kyo, her husband Dong-Ik, and her two children. Required fields are marked *. She is very nice, but not especially deep or compassionate. He is traumatised not once, but twice at the sight of Moon-kwangs husband, and is also the youngest and most innocent character. The friend is in love with the young girl and doesnt want another tutor slavering over her. Ki-taek and Chung-sook, the patriarch and matriarch, are having trouble finding employment, and their children, Ki-woo and Ki-jung are trying to help in whatever way they can. Its perfectly ironic how the film has come full circle, with Mr Kim taking the place of Moon-kwangs husband in the bunker. 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. Stick with me here. Were in a golden age of TV writing and development. Profession English tutor. The Park daughter is not entirely faultless; she seduces Ki-woo and her previous English tutor as well (Ki-woos friend), with Ki-woo even proclaiming the same pledge made by his friend that he would officially date her once she enters university. Cockroaches and insects are seen around the house, and at some point, Mr Kim even flicks a stink bug off the table, foreshadowing a larger plot point further on. Chung-sook, the Kim family matriarch, not only knows how to be a good housekeeper but also knows when to call her family members out when they're full of it. For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. Just trust me on this one. The film continues with Ki-woos narration. If not for the homicidal tendencies of the Kim family, she may well have lasted longer. Moon-gwang is the Parks' first housekeeper, a holdover from the house's first owner, the architect who built it. 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. But if you dig down deep enough, you can find each characters narrative function, and that can become a lens through which you develop the players in your stories. It is the only common factor between the Parks' young boy and Ki-Woo. 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. GradeSaver, 21st Century Haves, Haves-not: Bong Joon-Ho's Commentary on Contemporary Class Divide in Parasite. The Parks are not immune to Bongs scrutiny though the mother (Cho Yeo Jeong) is portrayed as a truly kind woman whose naivete befalls her, Mr. Park, her husband, can be quite horrible but this is a moment of clarity for Ki-taek, who realizes his family will always be seen as less than by people like the Parks. Leaving behind an earring or a strand of hair is common, but an entire article of clothing seems unlikely. Parasite represents the most focused and refined approach to class as a subject that Bong Joon-ho has achieved, and thats certainly saying something given his impressive body of work. Grew up as an art student at a middle-class family. director Bong Joon-hos insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked-about films of the year and set a new precedent for the mark a South Korean movie can leave on United States movie-going audiences. I finally caught the highly raved-about film, Parasite, after hearing nothing but praise for the movie from anyone who watched it. Parasite: Every Main Character Ranked By Intelligence, Parasite: 7 Reasons It's Bong Joon-Ho's Best Movie (& 7 It's Not), The 10 Worst Family Movies Of All Time, Ranked, 5 Reasons Why HBO's Parasite Is A Good Idea (& 5 Why The Movie Should Be Left Alone), Parasite: D&D Alignments Of The Main Characters. Parasite was not just the first South Korean film to win the foreign language prize at the Oscars but also the first foreign language film from any country to win the overall best picture prize. But, before we dig deeper into the social commentary, lets take a look at how the film managed to break through to an unmatched audience size. Thats all I can say without giving away major spoilers! resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Min-hyuk believes that Ki-woo poses no threat to his chances of eventually connecting with his student, Da-hye, and he knows that Ki-woo needs the money, so it is a kind gesture. What is Parasite about? I would LOVE to hear from other viewers on their theories on the film, so please feel free to share them with me. Parasite study guide contains a biography of Bong Joon-ho, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. For a full deep-dive analysis into how the themes of Parasite were previously tackled in Bong Joon-hos other films, check out this video essay on the subject: The Kim family may be below the Parks in status, but even they can look down on Moon-gwang and her husband. As the night wears on, the Kims manage to escape, running through the torrential downpour to reach their basement apartment in the slums. Ki-woo, the son, is gifted a scholars stone or suseok by a friend and given a recommendation for a tutoring job with a wealthy family. The real Parasite movie ending is more bleak and, unfortunately, more realistic. There are plenty of examples of subtle foreshadowing all throughout this opening act that circle back around by the end of the film. 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. characters are most like you. On his birthday, a day like today, he had snuck down to the kitchen to eat his birthday cake, but Moon-kwangs husband had snuck up the basement stairs and made eye contact with Da-song. However, things went downhill from there. Mr Park yells for Mr Kim to throw him the car keys, which unfortunately get stuck under Moon-kwangs husbands body as he falls. When folding the pizza boxes during the fumigation, he is the most determined (cockroach-like behaviour, as explained above) but also the most careless with his actions. After being added Hulus catalogue for exclusive streaming, it became the platforms most streamed film in both the independent and foreign film categories, reaching even more audience members and wowing them with its immaculate presentation and resonant themes. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. The argument between the two families becomes violent, with the Kims temporarily coming out on top. It wasnt just awards records that Parasite broke in 2019. 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. On that fateful day, he ran from the backyard with blood on his hands not Mr. Parks, as one might assume, but his own daughters. So how do critics convey when a film truly is unexpectedly, brilliantly unpredictable in ways that feel revelatory? Not affiliated with Harvard College. The characters are a reason for the success and we've ranked how smart they are. Yes, he receives help from Ki-jeong and Ki-woo with the peaches, but he is the one who must do the talking afterward. As mentioned, the film contains a huge, exciting twist that drives the plot ahead at full speed, so do yourself a favour and DONT spoil it for yourself!