This sets off Ki-taek, who stabs Park in the chest before running away and escaping into the basement bunker unseen. Outside of the sub-basement, violence erupts, and the prophetic scholars stone becomes an instrument of violence. The family lives in a garden unit where they struggle finding a Wi-Fi signal to sneak into in order to get . Director Bong even uses a wider aspect ratio of 2.35:1 to not only capture a large family group in a single frame, it also gives the viewer the impression of wide spaces that dont allow for hiding spots. as an art student at a middle-class family. She is brusque and unsentimental like her daughter, toughened by life in poverty. He soon discovers, however, that Mr. Park does not like his smell, and feels deflated by this insult. Moon-kwang herself is a suspicious character; she must definitely be unhappy with Mrs Kim for being her replacement (although shes unaware that it was due to the Kims meddling that got her fired), but why did she have to visit the house on, of all nights, the night that it was raining cats and dogs? Alongside actor Choi Woo-sik, he explains the significance of production design elements from the beginning of the film, such as the cultural context of scholars stones in South Korea and the idea of distant hope conveyed by the semi-basement window. However, she has no ill intentions, and can even be credited for saving Ki-woo after he was attacked by Moon-kwangs husband. director Bong Joon-hos insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked-about films of the year and set a new precedent for the mark a South Korean movie can leave on United States movie-going audiences. Parasite exploded this past weekend on Oscar night when it became the first international film to win four Academy Awards, including the coup de grace, Best Picture. The friend is in love with the young girl and doesnt want another tutor slavering over her. Chung-sook is the matriarch of the Kim family. With its overwhelming plot and acting, this motion picture retains a long-lasting effect and some kind of shock. Hes going to get his whole family into this house. In our Parasite movie analysis, we found that although the tone and style change, the themes at play remain consistent from the first half to the second half, and continue to be developed further as the film progresses. The brilliant set dressing of Parasite combined with the striking architectural-design choices perfectly reinforce the themes of the film, but more on the themes after we finish our Parasite summary. Living in a state-of-art mansion. Even though the film audience is treated to a scene of this happening, it is never confirmed whether it does as we ambiguously end the film back in the Kims tiny basement apartment and Ki-woo writing the letter. The Kim family, living in poverty, struggles to make ends meet by doing menial jobs such as folding pizza boxes for a local pizza shop. He is traumatised not once, but twice at the sight of Moon-kwangs husband, and is also the youngest and most innocent character. All three families at play are damaged by this explosive act of violence. But unlike so many upstairs-downstairs films, theres nuance to Bongs depiction of the lower class, largely because of the addition of the secret bunker. After being added Hulus catalogue for exclusive streaming, it became the platforms most streamed film in both the independent and foreign film categories, reaching even more audience members and wowing them with its immaculate presentation and resonant themes. Can the poor really just step into the world of the rich? All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident. The Kim family lives in a semi-basement and struggles to keep food on the table. For some Parasite movie analysis straight from the auteur himself, check out this scene breakdown from Bong Joon-ho. Scott Myers 41K Followers Follow More from Medium Scott Myers in Go Into The Story Despite their circumstances, you never get the sense that theres any animosity or resentment between them; only a shared discontentment for their living and financial situation. Each family has a symbiotic relationship with one another; the Parks need their employees to keep their house and family up and running, and the Kims and Moon-kwangs family leech off the wealth of the Parks. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Synopsis. As she scurries into the basement escorted by Mrs Kim, the rest of the Kims-in-hiding surreptitiously follow. Relationship Status single without any signs of romance. Its a conversation starter in ways we only get a few times a year, and further reminder that Bong Joon-ho is one of the best filmmakers working today. Parasite director Bong Joon-hos insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked-about films of the year and set a new precedent for the mark a South Korean movie can leave on United States movie-going audiences. Living in a musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident. Guen-sae manages to get the jump on Ki-woo after he fails to murderGuen-sae with the rock given by Min. It was definitely worth all the $9.50 (Grab movie voucher for Cathay :P) I spent to get the full cinematic experience, and I would definitely watch it again (once I recover from the mental scars it left on me). After expressing some doubt at the lies he would have to sell to land the tutoring gig, Ki-woo enlists the help of the artistic Ki-jeong to forge university papers for him in order to land the job. Moon-kwang reveals that a large cabinet in the basement is actually hiding the entrance to a secret underground bunker, where her husband (Park Myung-hoon) had been living in secret the past few years. as Ki-jung ( Ki-taek's daughter ), Chang Hyae-jin Not affiliated with Harvard College. You can download the script here. To access over 70 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. In the good ol' days, her husband Ki-Taek owned a chicken shack, then a Taiwanese Castella shop. Wealth has rendered her completely helpless, and she often spends her days napping on the couch or purchasing items for the house. Kim Ki-woos life changes when a friend offers to recommend him as an English tutor for a girl hes been working with as the friend has to go out of the country for a while. However, she makes a grave mistake by letting Moon-gwang back into the Park family home, thereby unleashing a Pandora's box she can't close. Mr Kim is eventually condemned to live and hide in the bunker, truly fulfilling the parasite-like behaviour of leeching of its host at someone elses expense. The first half of Parasite plays out largely as a comedy-drama with a compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Parasite. The lawn itself is huge, and is the first thing that any visitor sees. The film is packed with social commentary, thrilling moments, and plenty of meaty writing worthy of a full , FREE: StudioBinders Screenwriting Software , The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template), How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet), The Only Shot List Template You Need with Free Download, Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template), A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet, Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates), What is an Antagonist in a Story Definition & Examples, What is Telos: The Ultimate Guide to Understand Telos for Video Marketing, What is an Anecdote Definition, Examples, and Functions, What is a Memoir Definition, Examples in Literature & Film. When the architect sold the mansion to the Park family, Moon-Gwang survived a change of ownership. Parasite: Every Main Character Ranked By Intelligence, Parasite: 7 Reasons It's Bong Joon-Ho's Best Movie (& 7 It's Not), The 10 Worst Family Movies Of All Time, Ranked, 5 Reasons Why HBO's Parasite Is A Good Idea (& 5 Why The Movie Should Be Left Alone), Parasite: D&D Alignments Of The Main Characters. Although Ki-Woo lacks the charisma his sister Ki-Jung exhibits, Ki-Woo is an excellent scammer. The Parks suddenly call, informing Mrs Kim that they would be arriving home in 8 minutes. This review was filed from the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7th. More importantly, his failure to dispose of Geun-sae with the rock eventually proves to be not only his undoing but both the Park and Kim families alike. The crimes of Moon-kwang and her husband are obvious too, leeching off the Park familys wealth to harbour the husband in the house, and threatening to out the Kims for their scam despite their own complicity. The cultural swell around Parasite is much deserved and hopefully leads more audience members to check out Parasite director Bong Joon-hos previous films and more South Korean cinema in general. At the start of the film, we are introduced to the Kims, a family struggling to live under impoverished conditions. The Parks are not immune to Bongs scrutiny though the mother (Cho Yeo Jeong) is portrayed as a truly kind woman whose naivete befalls her, Mr. Park, her husband, can be quite horrible but this is a moment of clarity for Ki-taek, who realizes his family will always be seen as less than by people like the Parks. Parasite dominated the Academy Award, including a Best Picture win. Chung-sook, the Kim family matriarch, not only knows how to be a good housekeeper but also knows when to call her family members out when they're full of it. RELATED: 5 Reasons Why HBO's Parasite Is A Good Idea (& 5 Why The Movie Should Be Left Alone). Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. The characters are a reason for the success and we've ranked how smart they are. The Kim family moves in for the weekend and luxuriates. Its so clichd at this point in the critical conversation during the hot take season of festivalsto say, Youve never seen a movie quite like X. Such astatement has become overused to such a degree that its impossible to be taken seriously, like how too many major new movies are gifted the m-word: masterpiece. For years the country has been producing some of the finest films and directors in the world of cinema, but Parasite has crossed new milestones in terms of global impact. The music was truly masterful as it even manages to foreshadow later plot points that would unfold in the settings that conveyed tension or dread through its music. He is a violent and desperate man, and ends up going on a killing spree after the Kims kill his wife, Moon-gwang. As with great stories, every seeming-antagonist has their own reasons for doing what they do, making it nearly impossible to clearly identify an antagonist as we sympathise with their actions. "Parasite" is a marvelously entertaining film in terms of narrative, but theres also so much going on underneath about how the rich use the poor to survive in ways that I cant completely spoil here (the best writing about this movie will likely come after its released). Since then, the Park family had never spent Da-songs birthday in the house. Moon-gwang is pretty remarkable in that she has not only managed to ward off people from taking her job up until the Kim family, but she has also managed to keep her husband hidden in the Park family basement for alongtime. The director even created a hash tag to warn people not to spoil the movie for others. No. Yeon-gyo is a well-meaning mother and wife, but she's rather gullible. Min-hyuk offers Ki-woo his tutoring job while he's away noting that the family of the girl he tutors is not necessarily the best judge of character. She likes to play games with Ki-taek, calling him a cockroach and belittling him, as part of their marital dynamic. He may be the youngest of the Park family, but he is by no means the dumbest. As she cynically comments, "It's the basement smell. as Ki-woo ( Ki-taek's son ), Park So-dam It's all fun and games until Moon-gwang shows up, insisting that she left something at the house. Working with the incredible cinematographer Kyung-pyo Hong (Burning, Snowpiercer) and an A-list design team, Bong's film is captivating with every single composition. Script Analysis: "Parasite" Part 3: Characters | by Scott Myers | Go Into The Story Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Moon-kwang eventually succumbs to a concussion, leading to her husband desperately smashing his head into the light switches in the bunker to signal Help me in Morse code. And finally, as we discover when the tone pivots from that of a heist comedy to a rather harrowing but still witty thriller, there is the secret set connecting the Parks basement to a bunker where the husband of the familys former housekeeper has been hiding from loan sharks for about four years. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Parasite by Bong Joon-ho. Especially one with so many twists and turns that the best writing about it will be long after spoiler warnings arent needed? As silly an instruction this is, the Kim family respects his wishes and starts to comedically choke and cough as the fumes fill up their apartment, with only Mr Kim indifferent to the toxic fumes. When Ki-taek throws the keys, they land under Geun-sae, who is fighting with Chung-sook. To explain Parasites ending, we turn to the directors own words: You know and I know - we all know that this kid isn't going to be able to buy that house. Mrs Kim jokingly taunts Mr Kim, comparing him to a cockroach that would run and hide at the first sign of danger. And every single element of the film from the scholars stone, to the architecture of the homes, to the very names of the families all contribute to this central theme. There is more to Da-song than meets the eye. Parasite was the first film since Marty in 1955 to win the top prize of both The Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. Challenge getting through his family's bad luck. He stands in the woods near the Parks' house, which has been bought by Germans, and observes that the censor light is turning on and off in a patternMorse Code. He has the hardest part to play in getting rid of Moon-gwang. ki-woo's sister, smart and tough, gains the upper hand with mrs. park by expressing expertise and confidence, says she . Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. Geun-se, driven mad by his own situation, smashes Ki-woo over the head with the rock and runs upstairs to the backyard, where he then stabs Ki-jung. The local pizza shop informs the Kims that one in four of the pizza boxes they folded were faulty and could not be used. The smell won't go away unless we leave this place.". Because I plan on going to this school next year." When folding the pizza boxes during the fumigation, he is the most determined (cockroach-like behaviour, as explained above) but also the most careless with his actions. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The Kims return to find that their apartment has flooded with sewage water and try to rescue whatever valuables they can, including the fortune rock gifted to Ki-woo. He has good intentions, even if he is dishonest about how he achieves success, and just wants to create a better life for his family. After struggling to make ends meet folding pizza boxes for a local pizza restaurant, the Kims are visited by one of Ki-woo's wealthier friends, Min-hyuk, who offers to refer him to a job tutoring for a wealthy family, the Parks. account. "Parasite" displays the world of the impoverished and the hypocrisy of capitalist "laws." The family lives in abject povertyfirst trying to survive through the precarious work of folding pizza boxes and then finding a hustle by pretending to be middle class, educated and helpful. Ki-woo wakes up in the hospital and learns about what happens. Now that he is both her tutor and her boyfriend, he dreams of an affluent future as her husband. His sister is dead, his fathers whereabouts unknown. as Chung-sook ( Ki-taek's wife ), Berlinale 2023 Highlights, Part Two: Reality, Manodrome, The Adults, Inside, Golda, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson Feted at SBIFF 2023, Revisiting Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Tragically Common: Jamie Dack, Lily McInerny and Jonathan Tucker on Palm Trees and Power Lines. Characters are the players in our stories. As with every film, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so my interpretation here may be different from yours. This was foreshadowed early in the film when Mr Kim flicks a stink bug off the table in his house he is the stink bug to Mr Park, a smelly, insignificant insect that is unwelcome, and it is ultimately his stink that triggers his aggression towards Mr Park. It wasnt just awards records that Parasite broke in 2019. Ki-woo and his sister Ki-jung forge credentials for the job, and thus begins the long-con that sees each member of the Kim family infiltrating the upper-class Park family one-by-one. For a quick breakdown on satire, including a segment on Parasite, here's an explainer that will answer all your questions about how satire works. Leaving behind an earring or a strand of hair is common, but an entire article of clothing seems unlikely. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. The Question and Answer section for Parasite is a great Parasite Analysis: Navigating the Shift At its exact mid-point, Parasite undergoes a massive tonal shift. Parasite essays are academic essays for citation. She calls Chung-sook sister, at which the Kims scoff. What an astute observation for a young child, and this was such a key detail to throw in. Today and maybe forever the Kims remain underground. His decision to kill Mr. Park at the end is a shocking and perhaps poor one, but not entirely unjustified. But yet, we cant help but to sympathise with the protagonist family as we witness first-hand their destitute plight and desperation to climb out of squalor. What ensues is a sneaky ploy on the Kim familys part to slowly insert themselves into the lives (and house) of the Park family as they attempt to build a better life for themselves. *MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!! The Question and Answer section for Parasite is a great Thats all I can say without giving away major spoilers! Ki-jeong is not only the brains in the family who sets the entire scam operation in motion, she is also pegged by Ki-woo the most likely to succeed in her family as he mentions that Ki-jeong fits in the best at the Parks residence, hinting at her potential for success, but perhaps also foreshadowing her death on the residence grounds. Brian Tallerico is the Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. This secret basement reveals an even lower level of status below what we had thought was the floor with the Kim family. This article was published more than3 years ago, Note: This story, as one might assume from its headline, contains major spoilers for Parasite.. The cinematography was also amazing. He notices the flickering light and deciphers a coded message from his father. Mr Kim, tasked with managing Moon-kwang and her husband, struggles to subdue them both in the basement bunker. Were told that the house was built by a renowned architect, and that the housekeeper, Moon-kwang (Lee Jung Eun), also worked for the architect before the house was sold to the Parks. The rest of the Kims scramble to clean up the mess they had made, sweeping everything under the couch and hiding under the living room table. I just felt that frankness was right for the film, even though it's sad." Thats all for my in-depth analysis! Yes, it wouldn't have taken as much skill as she demonstrated to convince Yeon-gyo to be Da-song's new art therapist, but she plays the part so well that it positions her charge an exorbitant sum of money. However, to qualify for the job, Ki-Woo must forge his identity from a man in his mid-20s with no formal education to a student studying business at an elite university. Go here intentions, and she often spends her days napping on the couch or purchasing items for success! Discussed at go into the world of the film, Blu-ray, and the prophetic scholars stone becomes an of... Him, as part of their marital dynamic Ki-woo is an excellent.... Would be arriving home in 8 minutes we had thought was the floor with the young girl and want... The Kims-in-hiding surreptitiously follow into the Story, go here Kim, the rest the. He notices the flickering light and deciphers a coded message from his father jokingly taunts Mr Kim comparing! 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