Look away, dear reader, from this impressionistic review of Parasite, until you have seen it for yourself. Few movies come to mind as playing the best when you go in absolutely cold as does Bong Joon-Ho’s newest picture. The only thing I knew about this movie was the title and that it won the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year. Having now been removed from my screening of the film for a bit, I can say without a doubt that I’m not sure you’ll see a finer picture this year.
As I have said, I implore you to see this film but should you insist on reading on I will endeavor to talk about the film. Parasite tells the story of a poor family in South Korea, who get by on stolen wifi and odd jobs like folding pizza boxes. Their luck seems to change when their son’s friend hooks him up with a tutoring gig at the home of a rich family led by a clueless wife and a busy father. Noticing an opening, the son proceeds to get everyone in his family a job working in the house, not always through the nicest of circumstances. But more than their grifting, something else insidious seems to be hiding under the surface waiting to bubble up.
Nathaniel Rodgers described this movie as all genres at all times and there isn’t a truer quote to describe this. Bong Joon-Ho has crafted one of the funniest comedies, most bristling class takedowns, creepiest thrillers, and contemplative films of the year; and often each of these is on display in a single scene. It really is a masterfully written and directed project, that will keep you cringing and on the edge of your seat.
Bong Joon-Ho doesn’t do all this himself as he is buoyed by some incredible acting from Kang-ho Song, So-Dam Park, Woo-sik Choi and Hye-jin Jang. The commitment to make sure that each of their characters felt like part of a unified family but also exploring the depths of their pasts and hopes for the futures was a sight to behold. These actors give us the faces that we will come to know, love, hate, and follow along during the duration of Parasite’s incredible story and I can’t think of a finer group to have gone on the journey with.