The euphoria from watching a foreign film sweep so many major awards at the Oscars finally got me to watch this film that everyone has been raving about. The reason why I hadn’t gotten to it sooner was because, being an avid consumer of Korean films, dark and complex stories such as the one Parasite promised are the norm in this industry and I had wondered if it’s international popularity was really just luck, a result of people not being used to mainstream films such as this. But now, hours after having finished the film and staring blankly around me, I am happy to say that all the praise this film has gotten is well-deserved.
This film is absolutely crushing in its unflinching portrayal of what is the dark reality for a majority of people. Right from the start, there is never a moment where you truly believe that things would get better, that the family’s shenanigans would actually bear any positive fruit. The futility of it all, the suffocating hopelessness, just drips from the screen without being overpowering under Bong Joon Ho’s masterful hand, until he wants it to of course. I also now understand why there were such wildly differing descriptions of the film’s plot from website to website (one even painted it as more of a romance, wth). This film is not a high-concept film by any means. Approaching it as such would be a mistake and would probably turn off a lot of people. This film is not about the life and trials of one specific family. The characters aren’t concrete. They are, instead, intentionally made like vessels meant for anyone to step into. You could change all of the characters and the story would still remain the same. It is a tactic that has a high chance of falling on its face but the film manages to execute it brilliantly to its favor. The allegory IS the main plot. It is to the point that, very interestingly, the film almost feels fantastical without Bong Joon Ho actually ever crossing that line. But he definitely entertains the idea of dipping into magical realism, his toe right on the border. You can feel it in some shots and hear it in places in the sound design, something that just adds to the brilliance of the film.
One thing that did puzzle me about this film was it being described as a black comedy. There wasn’t even one moment in this film that made me laugh and neither were there any cues to show that the film wanted me to either. The only reason I can see behind attaching the “comedy” genre to this is due to the simple fact that the events that transpire in this film, at least in the first half, are not shown in a way typical of thrillers. But otherwise, to anyone who still hasn’t watched it and wants to, take the comedy descriptor very, very loosely.
So those are my short, crude first thoughts on the film. I still feel a bit dazed from the experience. Parasite is certainly very aptly named, and not just within the plot of the film. The film stubbornly sticks to you, even way after it’s over, and zaps any and all fantasies you may have about the world.
honestly the film is hilarious. have you seen his other films? he has a certain sense of humor (i recommend okja!) it isn’t really advertised as a comedy but it is funny. and tbh in thrillers or horrors a note of humor is necessary (imo)
i didn’t know the whole thing was done on a stage and not IRL which is MAJOR. so cool and it fits into the magical realism you mention. i love this movie soooo mcuh and as varied as cinema is it’s harder to have this type of very obvious film’s message go so far. i think in a way that shows its failure as a piece (someone i know wrote this and i think it’s a good look at the movie from another perspective https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-failed-revolution-of-bong-joon-ho-s-parasite) but it’s such a good ride. i was crying and thinking about it for days!
I admit I laugh easily at irony, but how do you NOT laugh at anything this director makes? His humor isn’t every subtle either. Everything he does is so grandiose.
This film was, to me, at times really funny? It was a miserable kind of funny. It was a “oh my god yes the world really sucks so much that this could be a real thing and I can’t help but laugh because its true” kind of funny, but funny nonetheless. From the fake identity hijinks to the amazing way the characters’ worlds were juxtaposed at every turn,… I laughed. A lot.
Bong’s MEMORIES of MURDER (2003) was a good training for me on understanding Bong’s type of humor. I missed most of it and had to re-watch it a lot and it has been my most favorite.
I watched Parasite in the theatre with a Korean friend. Obviously she laughed more than I did but I did catch some but not all.
The more you watch it the better it gets because you noticed things that you didn’t notice before so I’d say give it another watch…..
I haven’t seen the film, but I’ve seen lots of snippets without being spoiled on what happens, and I laughed at what I would call the “set up” of some of the families’ characters.
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Kaleidoscopic
February 10, 2020 at 8:37 AM
Parasite. What a film.
The euphoria from watching a foreign film sweep so many major awards at the Oscars finally got me to watch this film that everyone has been raving about. The reason why I hadn’t gotten to it sooner was because, being an avid consumer of Korean films, dark and complex stories such as the one Parasite promised are the norm in this industry and I had wondered if it’s international popularity was really just luck, a result of people not being used to mainstream films such as this. But now, hours after having finished the film and staring blankly around me, I am happy to say that all the praise this film has gotten is well-deserved.
This film is absolutely crushing in its unflinching portrayal of what is the dark reality for a majority of people. Right from the start, there is never a moment where you truly believe that things would get better, that the family’s shenanigans would actually bear any positive fruit. The futility of it all, the suffocating hopelessness, just drips from the screen without being overpowering under Bong Joon Ho’s masterful hand, until he wants it to of course. I also now understand why there were such wildly differing descriptions of the film’s plot from website to website (one even painted it as more of a romance, wth). This film is not a high-concept film by any means. Approaching it as such would be a mistake and would probably turn off a lot of people. This film is not about the life and trials of one specific family. The characters aren’t concrete. They are, instead, intentionally made like vessels meant for anyone to step into. You could change all of the characters and the story would still remain the same. It is a tactic that has a high chance of falling on its face but the film manages to execute it brilliantly to its favor. The allegory IS the main plot. It is to the point that, very interestingly, the film almost feels fantastical without Bong Joon Ho actually ever crossing that line. But he definitely entertains the idea of dipping into magical realism, his toe right on the border. You can feel it in some shots and hear it in places in the sound design, something that just adds to the brilliance of the film.
One thing that did puzzle me about this film was it being described as a black comedy. There wasn’t even one moment in this film that made me laugh and neither were there any cues to show that the film wanted me to either. The only reason I can see behind attaching the “comedy” genre to this is due to the simple fact that the events that transpire in this film, at least in the first half, are not shown in a way typical of thrillers. But otherwise, to anyone who still hasn’t watched it and wants to, take the comedy descriptor very, very loosely.
So those are my short, crude first thoughts on the film. I still feel a bit dazed from the experience. Parasite is certainly very aptly named, and not just within the plot of the film. The film stubbornly sticks to you, even way after it’s over, and zaps any and all fantasies you may have about the world.
amara
February 10, 2020 at 9:08 AM
honestly the film is hilarious. have you seen his other films? he has a certain sense of humor (i recommend okja!) it isn’t really advertised as a comedy but it is funny. and tbh in thrillers or horrors a note of humor is necessary (imo)
i didn’t know the whole thing was done on a stage and not IRL which is MAJOR. so cool and it fits into the magical realism you mention. i love this movie soooo mcuh and as varied as cinema is it’s harder to have this type of very obvious film’s message go so far. i think in a way that shows its failure as a piece (someone i know wrote this and i think it’s a good look at the movie from another perspective https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-failed-revolution-of-bong-joon-ho-s-parasite) but it’s such a good ride. i was crying and thinking about it for days!
saturtledaisy
February 10, 2020 at 9:10 AM
I admit I laugh easily at irony, but how do you NOT laugh at anything this director makes? His humor isn’t every subtle either. Everything he does is so grandiose.
This film was, to me, at times really funny? It was a miserable kind of funny. It was a “oh my god yes the world really sucks so much that this could be a real thing and I can’t help but laugh because its true” kind of funny, but funny nonetheless. From the fake identity hijinks to the amazing way the characters’ worlds were juxtaposed at every turn,… I laughed. A lot.
kiara
February 10, 2020 at 10:24 AM
Bong’s MEMORIES of MURDER (2003) was a good training for me on understanding Bong’s type of humor. I missed most of it and had to re-watch it a lot and it has been my most favorite.
I watched Parasite in the theatre with a Korean friend. Obviously she laughed more than I did but I did catch some but not all.
The more you watch it the better it gets because you noticed things that you didn’t notice before so I’d say give it another watch…..
Ally
February 10, 2020 at 2:18 PM
I haven’t seen the film, but I’ve seen lots of snippets without being spoiled on what happens, and I laughed at what I would call the “set up” of some of the families’ characters.