The pinpoint perfection of ‘Parasite’

Bong Joon-ho, director of such films like “Snowpiercer,” “Okja,” and “The Host,” is back with another original and much talked about entry into his colorful filmography with “Parasite.” The film tells the story of an unemployed lower class Korean family who, through deviously clever ways, find a way to infiltrate the home of a much richer household by passing themselves off as highly qualified individuals. But when a secret about this home reveals itself, the lives of both families will never be the same.

“Parasite” has been making a splash here in the states since its release in October. Having won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, being the first non-English film to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and having been nominated for six Oscars at this year’s upcoming 92nd Academy Awards including Best Picture, the film has most certainly deserved its hype. Bong Joon-ho’s newest film packs itself with playful direction, witty writing and fantastic production values that make it a worthwhile cinematic treat that speaks to the raw intuition and heart of filmmaking as an art form.

Through its narrative, the film finds a healthy balance between clever satire and tangible drama, with neither tone feeling the need to compete with one another. Rich with themes regarding how different social classes see the world, the film communicates these ideals in ways that never feel forced, but rather organically weave themselves into working thanks to the film’s playful tone. The comedy at play is extremely clever and hits hard. The humor is given time to breath while still remaining snappy enough to get a response, with plenty of detailed nuance to it that a second or third viewing is sure to reveal.

When the film does get serious, however, the transition in tone is as smooth as butter. Without giving anything away, the last half of the film, while still given its quirks, is far darker, with the ending being particularly melancholy in some places. Yet the film makes it work, portraying the dramatic elements with a delicate hand thanks to some great visual storytelling and solid pacing.

Its characters aid in this as well, with a fantastic cast who create very real feeling people. The film finds the area of gray to portray both families, as both come off as extremely likable in their own rights, but with their own flaws that can’t be ignored. The lower class family are admirably intelligent, but their methods of going about helping one another are morally wrong in many ways, whereas the richer family, despite being sweet to one another, are absent-minded in many respects. The clashing of both personalities is what also helps in the comedy, with plenty of contrast that helps in the satirical tone.

The presentation involved is equally fantastic. Bong Joon-ho’s direction and screenplay is snappy yet atmospheric. The ingenious cinematography and production design captures the contrast between the gritty lower level street life and the shinier, almost utopian feel of the upper-class lifestyle. In particular, an extended scene involving a rainstorm perfectly illustrated this juxtaposition through these presentation elements. The musical score and sound design add much to the character of these worlds, with a variety of classic sounding music that punches up both the comedy and drama.

“Parasite” is a film that truly deserves its hype. Full of energetic direction, a stellar cast, gut busting comedy, witty commentary and a clever script that ties it all together, this is a film that must be seen to be believed. To those who want to get more into modern day foreign films and don’t know where to start, this is a great bug to have in your system.