Movie

Parasite

parasite korean movie

Today we are going to talk a bit about the 2019 Korean movie Parasite or 기생충. There is no denying that we are a bit late to the party, but having been exposed to many Korean works as well as to, well, Korean culture over the past couple of years allowed me to see the movie with different eyes, different than I probably would have seen it when it was first released.

 

Summary of the plot

Parasite is the story of two different families, the first one being the Park family, who live in a wealthy and luxurious villa, while the second is the Kim family, who live in a cramped basement apartment. The story revolves around how the members of the Kim family end up working for the Park family as their tutors, housekeepers, and chauffeurs.

As the story progresses, we see how the two families’ lives become intertwined in a way that is at first comical but eventually turns tragic.

 

 

 

The Characters

  • Kim Ki-taek (played by Song Kang-ho) is the head of the Kim family. He lives with his wife, Chung-sook (Jang Hye-jin), and their two children, Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) and Ki-jung (Park So-dam). He is a very laid-back person and does not seem to have any aspirations in life. His goal is to make ends meet and keep on living.
  • Chung-sook is Ki-taek’s wife. She is a housewife and does all the cooking and cleaning for her family. She is less of a pushover than one might expect, but she does follow along with the plans of the rest of the members of her family without expressing many objections.
  • Ki-woo (played by Choi Woo-shik) is the son of Ki-taek and Chung-sook. He is street-smart and is always looking for ways to make money. As such, he ends up faking a degree from the prestigious Yonsei University in order to get hired as a tutor for the Park’s eldest child.
  • Ki-jung is the younger child of the Kim family. Just like her brother, she is incredibly smart and resourceful.

The Park family is the polar opposite of the Kim family. They are wealthy, they live in a beautiful villa, and they have all the luxuries that money can buy.

  • Mr. Park is the head of his own company and is very successful. He is a bit of a control freak and is very demanding of those around him.
  • Yeon-kyo is Mr. Park’s wife. She is a beautiful woman who seems to have it all. However, she is very naïve and does not seem to be able to think for herself.
  • Da-song is the Parks’ youngest child. He is a young boy who is full of energy. He has a lot of seemingly imaginary friends.
  • Da-hye is the Parks’ oldest child. She is a surprisingly shy young woman who is very studious and develops a crush on her tutor, Ki-woo.

So, now that we have a general idea of the plot and the characters, let’s get into whether or not the movie is worth watching.

 

Comments on Parasite

The movie Parasite was directed by Bong Joon-ho and was released in 2019. It won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Korean movie to ever win the prestigious award plus an Academy Award for best film, among other awards. On top of it all, the movie has received rave reviews from many critics.

So, is the movie Parasite worth watching?

In my opinion, yes, it is. The story is compelling, the acting is excellent, and the movie is overall very well-made. However, I will say that it is not a light-hearted movie and that it does deal with some dark themes. If you are

Parasite is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and think all at the same time. It is a story that is both tragic and comical, with characters that are both lovable and hateable. The acting in the movie is top-notch, with all of the actors giving great performances. The movie is also very well-made, with beautiful cinematography and a great soundtrack.

But most importantly, Parasite is a movie that will make you think. It will make you question your own privilege, and it will also make you think about the class system in our society. It is a movie that is relevant and timely, and it is one that I highly recommend watching. Honestly, this is perhaps the reason why it received so many awards and rave reviews. However, depending on how familiar the viewer is with the Korean culture and society, some aspects of the movie might be lost in translation. I am by no means an expert, but having been exposed more to this culture in the past couple of years through films and also through people helped me tremendously in understanding the movie Parasite on a much deeper level. At the end of the day though, the themes depicted in the film are universal even if some of the nuances are particular to a certain culture or society.

Ultimately, I believe that the movie Parasite is definitely worth watching. Even if certain aspects may get lost in translation, I think it is still a very powerful movie that will leave you with a lot to think about.

So, if you are looking for a light-hearted movie, then Parasite is not the movie for you. But if you are looking for a thought-provoking and moving story, then I highly recommend watching the movie Parasite. It is an excellent movie that is sure to leave a lasting impression on those who watch it.

 

Have you watched Parasite? What did you think of this Korean masterpiece?

 

 

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