Movie Review : Parasite

 

The Oscar winning film Parasite is  a great film and not only is it entertaining but it is also very deep and philosophical. Though it came out in 2019 I am embarrassed to have only watched it recently in 2024. I must have been living under rock. And anyone who has not seen it should drop whatever they are doing and watch Parasite.

Here is the problem I have with Parasite. There are no parasites in the film. It is a film about a poor family who connive their way into the good graces of a rich family in order to... work for them. Though it is a great movie to call Kim Ki-taek parasites is an injustice. They do honest work for the most part. In the beginning, yes they use other people's wife but at the same time they actually fold pizza boxes for a living and that is not parasitical. Later on the father becomes a driver, the mother a house cleaner, the son and daughter become tutors. In what way are they parasites? Even the rich family Park family are not parasites. The father is an architect and the wife is a stay at home mother who looks after the children. Even the guy trapped in the basement is not a parasite, he bangs his head and turns on the lights for Mr Park and thus is not a virus on society.

It would have made sense for the film to be about politicians or criminals who are the real parasites on society. Perhaps there can be a Parasite 2 where the son Ki-woo does some criminal activities to get rich and purchase the house his father is trapped in. Maybe a Parasite 2 could be about the criminal underworld, the corrupt political class and how they intertwine. 

One other thing I did not like was why the daughter Ki-jung had to die. It made no sense to the overall story in my opinion. What did she do to deserve death? I think they just killed her off for the shock value.

In any event South Korean television is slowly surpassing Hollywood in my opinion. I enjoyed Squid Game, Jewel in the Korean palace and Parasite as well. South Korean story telling is unique and authentic. The only film I did not like from South Korea is Old Boy which I thought was nonsensical and vulgar. Fathers sleeping with daughters, brothers romancing sisters is revolting and does not make good story telling in my opinion.

Anyway, if you have not watched Parasite do give it a chance. And I hope one day they make Parasite 2, because the story of Ki-woo is still unfinished.