avatarBrittany Ruiz

Summary

"Parasite" is a film that uses symbolic objects to critique societal greed and the fine line between poverty and wealth, challenging viewers to question the true nature of victimhood and villainy.

Abstract

Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" is a cinematic exploration of class disparity, portraying the lives of the impoverished Kim family and the affluent Park family. The film employs everyday objects like a peach, a rock, and a staircase as metaphors for the underlying themes of social hierarchy and economic struggle. It serves as a mirror to society, reflecting the dark reality of the poor's daily battles and the opulence of the rich, while avoiding clichéd portrayals of poverty. The narrative arc culminates in a suspenseful climax that leaves the audience pondering the true identities of the victim and the oppressor, suggesting that both families are complicit in their deceptions. The film is a poignant reminder that wealth and poverty are precariously close, and it raises the unsettling question of who the real parasite is in this societal dynamic.

Opinions

  • The film is praised for its nuanced depiction of class conflict without resorting to stereotypes, instead giving the poor family a chance to improve their socioeconomic status.
  • "Parasite" is seen as a thought-provoking piece that avoids clear-cut heroes and villains, emphasizing the moral ambiguity present in both families.
  • The movie is considered a timely masterpiece that effectively uses visual storytelling to comment on society's greed and the proximity of any individual to either wealth or poverty.
  • The narrative is designed to leave viewers with a cliffhanger, prompting them to reflect on the complex nature of parasitic relationships within the social structure.

Parasite Is The Dark Truth of Society

Image from Unsplash by Alessia Cocconi (This is to pay homage to the staircase in Parasite. The staircase gives so much meaning to the film.)

Review of the Movie

What do a peach, a rock, and a flight of stairs all have in common?

Well, they might not have anything in common or any meaning in real life, but in Bong Joon-ho’s visually stunning masterpiece Parasite, these objects are the core center of the whole message of the film.

It includes two families: the Kim family, who are poor, and the wealthy upper-class family, the Parks.

This film should not only enlighten us but also scare us because anybody can be a couple of steps away from being poor or rich in actual society.

Parasite the Dark Truth of Society’s Greed

Boon Joon-ho deliberately showcases the dark view of the everyday life of the poor and the rich. Joon-ho showcases the interaction between the two different families.

He does not stereotype the poor like so many other films but gives them at least a fighting chance to move up in their socioeconomic status. As the film reaches its climax, audiences are left on the brink of their seats, questioning who the actual victim is and the real villain.

But one will note that there is no hero to resolve the issue and that you could argue who the actual victim is, but every family member has had their share of deceiving each other.

So a massive cliffhanger in this thought-provoking untimely masterpiece of Bong Joon-ho film is who is the actual parasite?

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