Parasite

Official Australian release date: 27/6/19. Viewed: 1/2/20.

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Actors: Song Kang Ho, Cho Yeo Jeong, Lee Sun Kyun, Choi Woo Shik

Genre: Drama  

Rating: MA

  

  

‘Parasite’ is a South Korean family drama/black comedy, with some great acting and a unique premise. It doesn’t take long to establish the characters, but does well to give us time to get to know them. It’s essentially the tale of two families: the Kim’s – Dad Ki-taek (Kang Ho), Mum Chung-sook (Hyae Jin), Son Ki-woo (Woo Shik) & Daughter Ki-jung (So Dam), and the Park’s – Dad Dong-ik (Sun Kyun), Mum Yeon-kyo (Yeo Jeong), Son Da-song (Jung) & Daughter Da-hye (Ziso).

The Kim’s are poor, living in the ‘slums’, when Ki-woo gets a job tutoring Da-hye at the Park’s nice house on the other side of Seoul. Even though there’s symmetry in the parents/son/daughter, this isn’t an ‘Us’ scenario, but rather an exploration of class, social status and unconscious biases. There’s no “good guys” or “bad guys” – just a semi-realistic depiction of one family seeing the greener grass on the other side and taking an unconventional approach to get there.

All of the actors are great, with a nice mix of fun and humour, with seriousness and desperation. The twist at the end of the second act is both unexpected and still poses a lot of questions – there’s a few different ways it could’ve played out. Not quite a one-location film, but the house does serve as an extra character. Good score and cinematography. The ending is a fitting mix of bittersweet, devastating and hopeful.

Overall: See the potential Oscar-winner before it’s spoiled for you!

Gav's Rating: 4 stars.