According to our Scopo-Meter, we check the following in Parasite:
| Category | Out Of 5 |
| ACTING | 5 |
| STORY | 5 |
| PACING | 4 |
| INTENT | 5 |
| OVERALL | BOMB / GOOD / NICE / FINE / HMM / PATHETIC |
FilmScopes thank the creators of the film for exposing the vast gap between the morals of the poor and the rich. Through its poignant storytelling and complex characters.
Parasite highlights how inequality can distort one’s sense of right and wrong, and the devastating consequences that can result from such moral compromises.
When it comes to “Eat The Rich” movies, Bong Joon-Academy ho’s Award-winning masterwork is unbeatable. The South Korean drama Parasite follows the struggling Kim family as they gradually integrate themselves into the affluent Park household through the employment of their son.
In 2019, the South Korean film Parasite took the world by storm. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In this article, we will explore the themes of class struggle and inequality that are central to the film, as well as its impact on global audiences.
Parasite: A Tale of Two Families
Parasite tells the story of two families: the Kims and the Parks. The Kims are a poor family living in a small, cramped apartment in a dingy part of the city. They struggle to make ends meet, taking odd jobs and doing whatever it takes to survive. The Parks, on the other hand, is a wealthy family living in a lavish mansion in an affluent part of town. They have everything the Kims could ever want, including a driver, a housekeeper, and a tutor for their children.
One day, the son of the Kims, Ki-woo, gets a job as an English tutor for the Parks’ daughter. He realizes that the Parks are in need of other services, and one by one, the rest of the Kims con their way into the Parks’ household by pretending to be qualified professionals. Soon, the Kims are living the high life, enjoying the luxuries of the Parks’ home and money.
However, things take a dark turn when the Parks’ former housekeeper returns to the house, revealing a secret that threatens to destroy the Kims’ newfound success.
The Class Struggle: The Rich vs. The Poor
The main themes of Parasite are inequality and class conflict. The Kims stand in for the working class, trying to make ends meet in a culture that prioritizes privilege and riches. The Parks, on the other hand, stand in for the affluent elite who receive everything on a silver platter.
The Kims are forced to rely on their wits and cunning to survive throughout the movie, while the Parks have everything they could ever want. The physical distance between the two families emphasizes this division; the Kims reside in a compact apartment while the Parks are housed in a large estate.
As the Kims infiltrate the Parks’ household, they begin to see how the other half lives. They are amazed by the wealth and luxury that surrounds them, and they begin to realize how little they have in comparison. However, their success is short-lived, and they are eventually forced to confront the reality of their situation.
Did You Know This About Parasite?
- The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been inspired by the movie to give financial assistance to residents of basement apartments like the Kims so they can upgrade their residences.
- Back in 2013, Bong first proposed the concept of a play with the stage split between the two homes.
- Similar to Ki-woo, Bong spent his undergraduate years tutoring a wealthy family.
- After the release of this film, interest in “ram-don” (actually jjapaguri with steak) exploded online due to its prominent placement in the film. The two instant noodle types were even combined and sold as a single item.
The Impact: A Global Sensation
At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Parasite had its global premiere and made history by being the first South Korean movie to get the coveted Palme d’Or. In the months that followed, Bong attended practically all of the major award shows (Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critic’s Choice, etc.) and festivals (Telluride, Toronto, NYFF).
Six Oscar nominations and historic victories for Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature were the results of Bong’s remarkable voyage with Parasite. The drama is the first film in a foreign language to win Best Picture, and Bong is the first director from South Korea to do it.
Critical acclaim and economic success were achieved by Parasite, which became an international sensation. Because class conflict and inequality are universal topics that apply to all nations, the movie struck a chord with viewers.
A nationwide discussion about social inequality and the rising wealth gap was initiated in South Korea as a result of the movie Parasite. The movie also contributed to increasing awareness of working-class struggles in Korea, which are frequently ignored.
In the United States, Parasite made history by being the first movie to take home the Best Picture Oscar in a language other than English. This was a significant turning point for the movie business and evidence of the expanding global appeal of Korean filmmaking.
The entire family finds work as they break into the Parks’ home and live parasitically off their money using cunning and deception. The connection between the two families takes unexpected, dark turns, providing a stinging examination of the ignorance of the wealthy and a deep dive into class conflict.
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