If you were like me, then you probably heard that this film tackled a bunch of different genres and also somehow dealt with class warfare. That’s honestly a pretty apt description given how little information people wanted to divulge about the film considering its twists and unique plot. Quite simply put, this is a very interesting and original film, and I’ll avoid any spoilers for those that want (and should) watch the film. Oh, and I guess if you didn’t know, I should also mention that this is a South Korean film which means it’ll be subtitles all the way through. That absolutely shouldn’t deter you from watching this film; in fact, it really only adds more intrigue to the film to be able to see all the small cultural differences that you wouldn’t get with an English film.
The film starts off with a family of four living in poverty and trying to find a way to smooch off of someone else’s Wi-Fi. Later, when a guy comes down the street spraying that bug spray stuff, the father insists on leaving the window open to help kill the bugs inside their home. It’s not a great situation, but writer/director Bong Joon Ho still finds humor in it. When the son’s friend Min recommends him to take his place tutoring a high school girl at a rich family’s house, that’s really when the plot starts moving. We now get introduced to the Park family living in an incredible house. Bong Joon Ho does an excellent job of not making this family pish posh or just utterly despicable; rather, there’s a certain bliss to the fact that their problems don’t bother them too much because they have the means to always move forward. As for the plot, all I’ll say is that the son is able to get his sister a job tutoring the Park’s young son without revealing that they’re actually siblings, so now our poor family has two people both earning money and with access to a luxurious home. As you may have guessed, if I continue on from here, I would only be doing everyone a disservice to reveal how the story evolves.
There’s a distinct reason this film works as well as it does. It has an original plot and a well-deserved Oscar nomination for production design to go along with the genuinely funny humor, but that’s not what elevates it to an Oscar level. The two families work in tandem with each other, but how the film addresses the effects of wealth on your outlook on life and each character’s motivations is what really shines. There isn’t clunky narration or obvious exposition. The audience starts to draw their own themes, and then Bong Joon Ho gives us a couple of lines of dialogue that brings it all together in a thoughtful way. It’s like when a comedy has a running gag or inserts a ridiculous line of dialogue near the beginning only to quickly gloss over it before having it pop up later in the film. Some of the best comedies are the ones that use this technique well. Similarly, this is how Bong Joon Ho approaches his themes; as the son in the film would say, “It’s so metaphorical!” It’s not just that the story pays off, it’s the fact that it does so in such a natural way without ever beating the audience over the head with it that makes me so impressed with this film.
Bong Joon Ho set a record for winning 4 Oscars for what he did with this film. It’s clear that he takes inspiration from some of the great American directors he’s studied, but it’s hard to try to compare him to anyone else. His style does carry over from his other films, however, so checking out the Chris Evans led Snowpiercer might help. I wouldn’t necessarily boast that the editing was Oscar-worthy, but there was one shot using water to help transition the scene that stood out to me. And apart from Bong Joon Ho, I was most impressed with Yeo-jeong Jo who played the naive Mrs. Park. She is a driving force in showing a kind character overall that still considers herself a little above others. The music, especially near the end, is also very good.
It’s honestly hard trying to find faults in this film. But there’s a scene near the middle of the film that is pivotal in driving the movie into a new direction with a bit of a left-field twist. It does feel that the conflict that ends up presented could’ve been avoided, but the actions the characters take do match up with how they probably would react despite it not being completely rational. But it truly is a small critique.
If you’re looking for a movie to watch during this quarantine that most likely isn’t your typical fare, I give a high recommendation to Parasite. All the way up to the very last line of dialogue will have you engaged, and the film is just so refreshing overall. It’s tough for me to say that I’d pick this movie over Marriage Story, but I absolutely understand why the film won Best Picture now and am impressed that it actually did. The film is thoughtful without ever being preachy in any way, and it’s just a lot of fun. Go watch this movie.
In Brief:
- I mean, what’s there really to say except that everything is indefinitely delayed?
- There’s a couple of different movies I could do a review for, just need to see if my thoughts would add enough value to warrant a review. I did watch the most successful South Korean movie ever in the high-octane Train To Busan, so if you’re really wanting me to do more international stuff, there’s enough movies out there for sure.
- Um, stay safe. And make sure to read this review 6 feet away from anyone else.
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