Parasite (2019) Movie Review PDF

CPAR - MOVIE REVIEW PARASITE GROUP 5 PRESENTATION Parasite ( 2019) LEADER : JUNIEL MACASA MEMBERS : BLEA ORTILE MARIELE GONGORA LEANNE ESCUREL ULYSSES ZARAGOZA ALEXIS REYES MICHEAL BONITA MARJORIE TOBIAS BRIEF OVERVIEW Parasite is a 2019 South Kor...

CPAR - MOVIE REVIEW PARASITE GROUP 5 PRESENTATION Parasite ( 2019) LEADER : JUNIEL MACASA MEMBERS : BLEA ORTILE MARIELE GONGORA LEANNE ESCUREL ULYSSES ZARAGOZA ALEXIS REYES MICHEAL BONITA MARJORIE TOBIAS BRIEF OVERVIEW Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho. It follows the Kim family, a poor family living in a semi-basement apartment, who scheme their way into working for the wealthy Park family. - Director: Bong Joon-ho - Main Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin, and Lee Jung-eun. - Release Date: May 30, 2019 (South Korea)  PLOT SUMMARY Parasite (2019) is a South Korean dark comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film follows the impoverished Kim family, who live in a cramped basement apartment and struggle to make ends meet. Their fortunes change when the son, Ki-woo, gets a job as an English tutor for the wealthy Park family’s daughter. Seeing an opportunity, the Kims devise a plan to infiltrate the Park household by securing jobs for each family member under false pretenses. As they integrate themselves into the lives of the Parks, the film explores themes of class disparity and social inequality, leading to unexpected and dramatic consequences  Themes and messages Social Inequality - The film vividly portrays the contrast between the wealthy and poor of the Park family and Kim's family. This inequality in living conditions, opportunities, and lifestyles highlights the systemic inequalities present in society Morality and Ethics - The movie brings up moral and ethical questions through the actions and choices of the characters. Kim's immoral actions stand in contrast to Parks' ignorance and ethical indifference, prompting viewers to consider their personal moral beliefs. Coexistence and Conflict - The movie investigates the uncomfortable coexistence of various social classes in a shared environment. The conflicts and subsequent violent clashes among the characters symbolize larger societal divisions and tensions. Insincerity - The theme of deceit is marked by the Kims adopting false identities to penetrate the Park home. This action prompts inquiries into the essence of identity and the facades individuals adopt in various social settings.  Themes and messages Social status - The Kims' ambition to raise the social hierarchy is a key driving element of the story. Their strategies to integrate into the Park family illustrate the extremes to which individuals will reach to elevate their social standing and the ethical uncertainties that come with it. Human persistence and survival - despite their challenging situation, the Kims demonstrate resourcefulness and determination. Their fight ffor existence highlights the human ability to adjust and endure when confronted with challenges and to survive. Parasite - A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism. Getting its food and depending on its survival on the host. It can also cause harm to its host. Similarly, although the Kims appear to be the parasite leeching off the Parks' wealth. The park, too, can also be considered a parasite, exploiting the labor and desperation of the lower class to maintain their privileged lifestyle or arising from the social hierarchy. Character Analysis Character Analysis: Parasite (2019) 1. Kim Ki-taek (Father) Initial Traits: Ki-taek starts the movie as a desperate, jobless man struggling to make ends meet. He is depicted as a passive character who accepts his circumstances, occasionally showing subtle frustration with his life. Development: As the plot progresses, Ki-taek becomes increasingly involved in the deception of the wealthy Park family. His moral ambiguity deepens, and he is forced to confront his own survival instincts when faced with extreme situations. His evolution reflects the darker side of class struggles and the lengths one might go to when pushed to the edge. 2. Chung-sook (Mother) Initial Traits: Chung-sook is practical, tough, and resourceful. She is the anchor of her family, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the family survives, including taking on roles in the Park household under false pretenses. Development: Though less central than her husband and children, Chung-sook plays an important role in the family's strategy to infiltrate the Park family. Her strength and pragmatism shine through as she quickly adapts to situations.  Character Analysis Considering 3. Kim Ki-woo (Son) the fact that themes and ideas can be quite complex, it's Traits: Initial important tointelligent, Ki-woo is considerambitious, how they develop and eager throughout to climb a text. the social ladder. He is the one who initially manipulates the situation to gain employment as an English tutor in the Park family. Development: Throughout the movie, Ki-woo's optimism and dreams of upward mobility are tested. Despite his ambition, he begins to show more signs of complicity and moral blindness as he gets deeper into the Parks’ world. His relationship with the Parks, especially his attraction to their daughter, reflects his desire to blend in and belong to a higher social class. 4. Kim Ki-jung (Daughter) Initial Traits: Ki-jung is sharp, cunning, and resourceful, often serving as the brains behind the family’s cons. She has a deep understanding of human behavior and uses it to manipulate the Park family, especially Mrs. Park. Development: Ki-jung’s evolution is marked by her ability to weave complex lies and maintain control over the situation. She presents herself as a nurturing figure, playing on the Park family's perceptions of her as trustworthy and competent.  Character Analysis 5. Park Dong-ik (Father of the Park family) Initial Traits: Dong-ik is the wealthy, somewhat oblivious patriarch of the Park family. He is polite but distant, epitomizing the entitled, detached nature of the upper class. He sees his staff as tools rather than people. Development: Throughout the film, Dong-ik's indifference to the lives of those beneath him becomes more apparent. His interactions with his family and the Kims reflect a certain degree of callousness, as he fails to see the reality of his servants' lives. 6. Park Yeon-kyo (Mother of the Park family) Initial Traits: Yeon-kyo is the well-meaning but naive wife of Dong-ik, with a tendency to be overly trusting and unaware of the social dynamics around her. She believes in the goodness of people, which makes her an easy target for the Kims.  Character Analysis Development: Yeon-kyo’s character remains relatively static, but her vulnerability and superficiality come through. She is more concerned with appearances and her own comfort than with any deeper understanding of her employees’ lives. 7. Gook Moon-gwang (Housekeeper) Initial Traits: Moon-gwang is initially a loyal and trusted employee of the Park family. Development: Moon-gwang’s discovery of the Kims' infiltration into the Park family’s life shifts her from a passive character to one with a hidden agenda. She reveals that she, too, has been deceiving the Parks for years.  Cinematography and Visuals Camera Work Tracking Shots: Long, fluid shots, such as when the Kims ascend the staircase, symbolize upward social mobility. Framing & Composition: Characters are often framed to emphasize social hierarchy, with the Kims placed lower in the frame and the Parks higher. Spatial Awareness: The multi-leveled Park house visually represents class divides, especially the basement which signifies hidden truths. Visual Style Color Palette: Muted tones for realism, with warmer colors highlighting the Parks’ wealth. Symmetry: Balanced compositions, especially in the Park house, underscore the opposition of the two families. Lighting: Daylight scenes feel optimistic, while nighttime lighting heightens tension and emotional shifts.  Cinematography and Visuals Special Effects Flooding Scene: A mix of practical and digital effects portrays the chaos of the Kim family's downfall. Basement Reveal: Minimal effects create an eerie, confined space, enhancing the horror of the hidden secrets. Symbolic Visuals The Rock: Symbolizes ambition and weight, visually tying into key narrative moments. Park House Views: Large windows and expansive city views emphasize the Parks' social detachment and privilege.  SOUND AND MUSIC The soundtrack and sound design in the movie "Parasite" play a crucial role in enhancing the overall cinematic experience. The film's composer, Lee Jong-ho, created a haunting and suspenseful score that perfectly complements the movie's themes and tone. One of the most notable aspects of the soundtrack is its use of traditional Korean instruments, such as the gayageum and the geomungo, which adds a unique cultural flavor to the music. The score is also characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and sudden changes in dynamics, which heighten the tension and unease felt by the audience. The sound design in "Parasite" is equally impressive, with the use of ambient sounds and sound effects to create a sense of realism and immersion. For example, the sound of the rain and the wind are used to create a sense of unease and foreboding, while the sound of the characters' footsteps and the rustling of leaves are used to create a sense of movement and action. Overall, the soundtrack and sound design in "Parasite" are integral to the movie's success, enhancing the emotional impact of the film and adding depth and complexity to the storytelling.  PERSONAL CRITIQUE The movie starts as a comedy but becomes a tragedy by the end. This change leads to the ruin of three families, including the servant family living with the wealthy family. The poor family acts like a parasite, trying to take everything they can from the rich while destroying both themselves and their hosts. The film effectively illustrates its title and reflects our society. The final tragedy, resulting in five deaths, could have been avoided if the poor family had controlled their desires and lived within their means. Similarly, if the wealthy family had been wiser in evaluating their situation, they might have recognized the danger earlier and escaped it. In the end, the mood created is rather sad and empathetic, because all the characters are victims of the society of injustice, hypocrisy, avarice, and desires for power and luxury. This reminds us how social inequality can deeply affect people's emotions. □ "Parasite" is a groundbreaking Korean film, being the first to win both the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Picture, proving Korean cinema's depth beyond soap operas. The film’s message is impactful, blending satire and social commentary with well-timed humor. However, its pacing weakens in the final act, where the abrupt shift from comedy to intense drama in a brief, chaotic conclusion may hinder the audience’s full grasp of its violent themes.  CONCLUSION In conclusion, the Kim family might seem like "parasites" feeding off the wealth of the Parks. This reflects how, in a rigid social hierarchy, each class depends on the other, often in exploitative ways. The layout of the Park's house versus the cramped Kim apartment symbolizes social separation. The rich live “above” the poor, with the basement symbolizing how lower classes are hidden and disregarded. This seperation emphasizes how social class is not just economic but deeply rooted in where and how people live. THANK YOU!