Parasite: A Cultural Moment

My dad had been asking me to watch Parasite with him for a good month before I finally agreed. His biggest selling point, of course, was that it was a Korean movie. He had also mentioned that it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes festival, which marginally piqued my interest, but I was still hesitant to see the film because I associated festival films with weird indie art pieces that I wouldn’t understand. I brushed off his initial request, but a month later my dad excitedly told me that Parasite was playing at the Venue. I didn’t have an excuse so I agreed to watch the movie with him that Wednesday night. Even though I knew it was a Cannes winner from a fairly famous Korean director, Bong Joon Ho, I had unreasonably low expectations for the movie. Looking back, my scarce experience with Korean films made it difficult for me to look forward to Parasite, despite growing up in a Korean household. I couldn’t draw reference to other Korean movies, and for that reason, I was  blown away by the time the credits rolled. I’ve been thinking about this movie ever since I watched it last month Part of my amazement is due to Parasite’s extraordinary storytelling, but another part is how it tapped into my Korean culture in a way I have never experienced. 

First, a synopsis. The film focuses on the members of a poor family in South Korea, the Kims after their son finds the opportunity to work for an extremely wealthy family, the Parks. One by one, the Kims take over the job of an existing employee in the Parks’ home until they discover a shocking secret about one of the former employees. My dad described Parasite as a comedy, although I would say that that’s only half of the story. I would describe the film as a witty comedy for the first two acts, and a thriller or horror movie for the last act. It was to the point where in the first act of the movie I thought to myself, Why is this rated R? The answer came in the third act of the film, when the tone of the movie shifts effortlessly towards a dark and horrific conclusion. 

Parasite’s cinematography and plot are impeccable. The production design creates an unsettling but realistic atmosphere, and complements the plot without being over-the-top. However, what I really love about it is the social commentary about Korea that I haven’t been in touch with. Parasite’s theme is all about class and economy in South Korea, which is a little different than in America. Through a twisted plot, Parasite comments on the difficulty to climb the social and economic ladder in South Korea, which is much harsher than the “American Dream” mentality. South Korea is a brutal country when it comes to making a name for yourself, and if your family isn’t already powerful, it’s very difficult to reach a higher status. However, regardless of whether the moviegoer is Korean or not, the film serves as a bleak reminder to the realities of social status and the lengths people will go to climb up the ladder.

With Parasite being nominated for a whopping six awards in this year’s Oscars, I can’t help but feel proud of Korea’s progress in the entertainment industry. I will be very surprised if Parasite doesn’t win at least one award, and it seems like many others feel the same. Regardless of awards success, the film will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark in the world of film, both in South Korea and the US, and  create a lasting legacy of Korean storytelling.

by HANNAH KIM