“Parasite” Takes You for a Wild Ride

Release Date：Oct/11/2019
Genre：Drama/Thriller
Director：Bong Joon Ho
Cast：Song Kang-ho、Lee Sun-kyun、Woo-sik Choi、Park So-dam 

Viola's Rating：9.3







If a director and screenwriter only has eight feature films and wins the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, you know he’s an expert story-teller, a genius talent. Known for “Memories of Murder”, “Okja”, “Snowpiercer” and “The Host”, Director Joon-ho Bong’s good at telling parables about social status, and his latest film “Parasite” on the issue again is going to be released in the US on October 11, 2019.

As the first Korean flick to win the Palme d’Or, this dramatic thriller takes a close look at the all unemployed Ki-taek's family taking bizarre interest in the affluent and attractive Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

Besides an amazing director, there are a bunch of awesome actors and actresses in “Parasite”, especially the award-winning Kang-ho Song, who cooperates with Director Bong many times, and Sun-kyun Lee, who has brilliant performances in both big and small screens. Song acted as a badly off father, who does try and makes ends meet, but doesn’t succeed, therefore he ends up destitute. On the other hand, Lee’s charisma is extremely suitable to depict a prosperous entrepreneur, even Director Bong commented that he has the perfect dashing left cheek to shoot in the car.

From the beginning to the end, “Parasite” presents the contrast between the impoverished and the rich. There’s a heavy thunderstorm scene that all the half basement apartments are flooded while on the other hand, the Parks are able to throw a party the next time at ease. Also, their housing itself is very different from each other, and such sarcastic difference keeps appearing in the motion picture.

“Parasite” is a very local movie talking about specific living condition in Korea, but the matter Director Bong wants to bring up is globalized. No matter how hard people who live in ghetto try, they’ll never be able to blend in with the wealthy. This principle applies to everywhere in the world, and that’s the reason why when “Parasite” premiered at Cannes, all the filmmakers were awed by its secrets revealing and the message it shares.

Just like Director Bong’s former picture “Snowpiercer”, “Parasite” discusses the topic of social status and stereotypes people have about the affluent or the needy. However, instead of using similes, Director Bong directly describes the situation by revealing the real situation in the world, and all the rage, surprises and tension the feature film contains enhance the effect even more.

Looking from all aspects, “Parasite” is definitely one of the best films ever made, and all the devastating twists throughout the flick will take its audience for a wild ride, and is no doubt one work that’s worth seeing more than once.

Picture Credit:IMDb