At the start of the film, we are introduced to the Kims, a family struggling to live under impoverished conditions. For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. The Park daughter is not entirely faultless; she seduces Ki-woo and her previous English tutor as well (Ki-woos friend), with Ki-woo even proclaiming the same pledge made by his friend that he would officially date her once she enters university. 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. NEXT: Parasite: D&D Alignments Of The Main Characters. We even learn that Moon-kwangs husband, like Mr Kim, also had a failed business venture in a cake shop. Bong Joon-ho 's masterful film Parasite is a wicked and brutal satire about wealth disparity. 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. Major kudos to Olivia Ramirez for doing this weeks scene-by-scene breakdown. Interests scouting. He has always been fascinated by pop culture and film. At some points, it seemed that the music didnt match the situation, such as instilling fear or anxiety in the listener when there was really nothing to worry about at the moment, but the sense of foreboding always pays off later in the film. Mr Park makes a comment about smelling Mr Kim (who, unbeknownst to him, is literally right under his nose), and complains about the smell that Mr Kim exudes. The flooding sequence, as depicted on the poster, also illustrates how the wealthy are unaffected by many of the debilitating circumstances that affect the lower classes as they are, quite literally, above the trouble. (Note: One of these ranked characters is a huge spoiler for one of the plot's biggest twists, so if you still haven't seenParasite, get on it and then come back and read this!). While attending a birthday party for the Parks young son, Da-song (Jung Hyeon Jun), Ki-woo heads to the bunker carrying a heavy scholar stone he once received as a gift intended to bring his family material wealth. Lee Jeong-eun, who plays Moon-Gwang the housekeeper, also provided the vocalization for Okja the super pig in Bong Joon-hos previous film. 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. The only thing I can think of is that the original housekeeper was in contact with the original tutor of the family. Living in a small, musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. Ki-woo visits the Parks in their gigantic home, where he is introduced to the spacey and out-of-touch Mrs. Park. The film centers on two families, one poor and one rich and the interactions between them that end explosively. One set of stairs descends to the central Kim familys dingy semi-basement apartment in modern-day Seoul, while another ascends to the front door of the ultrawealthy Park family, for whom the cash-strapped Kims work. Profession art tutor. The films social commentary on class is at its strongest in this depiction of the lower classes fighting against each other rather than against the 1% who truly hold more accountability. Parasite essays are academic essays for citation. Although it does not seem likely, Ki-Woo claims he will get admission into an elite university and marry Da-Hye. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Parasite by Bong Joon-ho. Ki-woo is what really gets the Kim family through the Park family's door. When Ki-woo goes into the basement, Geun-sae attacks him and bludgeons him in the head with the rock. 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). "Parasite" is a film that follows 10 main characters up close (8 of whom are shown below - the other two are not shown for obvious reasons which will become apparent after you have witnessed the movie) with 10 different "characteristics" that need to be captured in the frame - the looks, the personality, the deep pathos that oozes from each character's situation and by giving us . The lawn itself is huge, and is the first thing that any visitor sees. There are plenty of subtle, comedic moments in the film that gave me a good chuckle, and some even managed to get a LOL from me. The entire Kim family, beginning with Ki-woo, soon scam their way into different jobs for the Park family. The Kim family moves in for the weekend and luxuriates. Why he trusts Kim Ki-woo given what we know and learn about him is a valid question. This review was filed from the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7th. 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. As mentioned, the film contains a huge, exciting twist that drives the plot ahead at full speed, so do yourself a favour and DONT spoil it for yourself! He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist,The New York Times, and Rolling Stone,and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association. GradeSaver "Parasite Summary". Mr. Park is the head of the Park household. What is Mumblecore? The Park family is also blissfully unaware that the Kims are all related, but the observant young Park son, Da-song (Jung Hyun-joon) notices that all the new hires smell the same. A third leads to the upper floor of the Parks stylish home. The films accolades speak for itself it won the prestigious Palme dOr award at this years Cannes Film Festival, which is an award of the highest order at one of the worlds most renowned film festivals. Trying to make long term plans for him to eventually marry Da-hye are laughed off by his family. You would have never expected that the spacious, minimalist living room would having sufficient hiding spots for the Kim family, but they make do, truly living up to the cockroach analogy used by Mrs Kim earlier on as the Kims scatter and hide at the first sign of danger. 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. Mr Kim is even needlessly proud when he discovers his childrens deceptive skills. Personality driven and flexible. Ki-taek, who is hiding under the table, hears Mr. Park discuss his unsavory smell. Ki-jeong manages to gain the trust of the young Da-song, and was even the last person to show compassion towards Moon-kwang and her husband, offering to bring them food when theyre trapped in the basement. Parasite is clear-eyed about the illusions that inequality needs in order to perpetuate itself, and about the many systems that shield one-percenters like the Parks from having to get their own hands dirty while engaged in the project of oppression. The rock is ultimately Ki-woos downfall. As with every film, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so my interpretation here may be different from yours. There are plenty of examples of subtle foreshadowing all throughout this opening act that circle back around by the end of the film. The Artist, a French and Belgian production, won best picture at the 2012 Academy Awards but was ineligible for the best foreign language film category as it is a silent film. It is his success in passing as a competent English tutor that allows him to invite Ki-jeong into the home and so on. After waking up in the hospital, he and his mother are charged and put on probation. An American DIY Film Movement, When is Golden Hour? Surprisingly, Ki-Woo turns out skilled in his artifice: as Ki-Woo explains, "I dont consider this a crime. Honestly, it may be a tie between Dong-ik and Yeon-gyo here as they both fall for the deceptions of Ki-jeong and the rest of the Kim family. Ki-woos friend is actually in love with the Park daughter, proclaiming that he would officially date her once she enters university, and that he trusts no one else to be her stand-in tutor except for Ki-woo. The real deception is carried out by the Kims, and it works flawlessly. The clean, empty spaces of the Park home contrasted against the tight quarters of the Kim living arrangement isnt just symbolic, its visually stimulating without ever calling attention to itself. The Parks go on a camping trip for Da-song's birthday, leaving the house empty. Please go catch the movie in the cinema before it ends its run. Synopsis. Whats their function? At the party, Da-song falls into another seizure upon the sight of Moon-kwangs husbands bloodied face (from when he tried to signal Help me through the light switches), and the Park family summon Mr Kim to drive Da-song to the hospital while Ki-jeong bleeds out on the lawn and Mr Kim attempts to stop the bleeding. Managing to never get caught up to that point, though, was definitely a feat on its own merits, even if it was in a basement. 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? Soon enough, Ki-woo and Ki-taek secure positions in the Park household for their parents as well. Profession English tutor. Parasite dominated the Academy Award, including a Best Picture win. The emotionally-affecting resonance of the ending is the perfect cap to the wonderfully layered social commentary spread throughout the film. A visual medium requires visual methods. Ki-woo cant seem to let go of the decorative rock, a symbol of his constant yearning for stability. account. I just felt that frankness was right for the film, even though it's sad." To take advantage of all of CharacTours features, you need your own personal Da-song was perhaps the only hope the Park family had and still they collapsed. 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. 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. Now that he is both her tutor and her boyfriend, he dreams of an affluent future as her husband. But rather than leaving viewers in this dreamy state, Bong pinches them and returns to the apartment. I left the cinema with my heart racing thats just how impactful this movie was. Ki-woo Kim (Choi Woo-Shik) is a young man living in poverty in the slums of a nameless South Korean city with his family - father Ki-taek Kim (Song Kang-ho), mother Chung-sook Kim (Jang Hye-jin), and sister Ki-jung (Park So-dam). He fatally wounds Ki-jeong, stabbing her through the chest as the party guests erupt into panic and scatter. 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. I would LOVE to hear from other viewers on their theories on the film, so please feel free to share them with me. Elevation clearly equates to status; the parks have a multi-level home at the top of the hill while the Kims live below street level in a semi-basement, and the surprise 3rd party lives deep underground in a sub-basement. For a full deep-dive analysis into how the themes of Parasite were previously tackled in Bong Joon-hos other films, check out this video essay on the subject: The Kim family may be below the Parks in status, but even they can look down on Moon-gwang and her husband. Some time ago, she and her husband purchased the beautiful mansion from its architect. Grew up as an art student at a middle-class family. Ill do a spoiler-free review first, followed by an in-depth analysis, so dont scroll too far if youve not caught the movie. Guen-sae manages to get the jump on Ki-woo after he fails to murderGuen-sae with the rock given by Min. The Parks seem to be happy too. Since then, the Park family had never spent Da-songs birthday in the house. describe ki-woo. I left the cinema around 2am reeling and shookt, and was still desperately Googling and researching for the films reviews and analyses two hours later. Brian Tallerico is the Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. Mrs. Park is a beautiful, wealthy, and ditzy head-of-household who prides herself on not being able to do domestic chores. Mr Kim, tasked with managing Moon-kwang and her husband, struggles to subdue them both in the basement bunker. The metaphorical themes are presented in as literal a way as possible with the act of this stabbing. Today and maybe forever the Kims remain underground. The cinematography was also amazing. Leaving behind an earring or a strand of hair is common, but an entire article of clothing seems unlikely. This secret basement reveals an even lower level of status below what we had thought was the floor with the Kim family. Following the films major twist, Parasite continues in a far darker tone until its ending. to infiltrate rooms in . Parasite has a lot worthy of analysis and it has a lot to say. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! The article breaks down how to identify and breakdown set elements in a screenplay. GradeSaver, 21st Century Haves, Haves-not: Bong Joon-Ho's Commentary on Contemporary Class Divide in Parasite. Its here we can clearly see how money and richness have made the Parks blind and naive. But that he doesn't press Yeon-gyo for replacing Moon-gwang, who has been with the family for quite some time is really when his fate is sealed. I was disappointed to find that not many people had done an in-depth analysis on the film, but thats what Im here for! Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. 21st Century Haves, Haves-not: Bong Joon-Ho's Commentary on Contemporary Class Divide in Parasite Wikipedia Entries for Parasite Introduction Plot Cast Production Themes and interpretations The main themes are capitalism, deception, and violence. I noticed that the house, the main setting for the plot, is always perceived by the audience in wide shots to show the expanse of space available. 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. You can download the script here. His sister is dead, his fathers whereabouts unknown. 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. This time it's true. Ki-jeong, Ki-woos sister, is the main brain behind the scam operation that brings in the rest of her family into the Park residence. Ki-taek and Chung-sook, the patriarch and matriarch, are having trouble finding employment, and their children, Ki-woo and Ki-jung are trying to help in whatever way they can. When Moon-gwang tries to ascend the stairs and reveal herself, Chung-sook kicks her down, concussing and killing her. More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. In our Parasite movie analysis video, this mid-point scene was the focus. Parasite Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) Grew up. The characters are a reason for the success and we've ranked how smart they are. A graduate of Brigham Young University's English program, he can be found re-watching HALT AND CATCH FIRE when he's not elbow deep trying to stay caught up on the latest movies and TV shows. The entire plot of the film was completely unexpected and otherworldly, giving the audience a great sense of uneasiness and formication. Moon-kwangs appearance at the Park residence is when the film truly starts to take a shocking, sharp turn in pace and direction. It speaks wonders to Parasites accessibility that it was received so well with such widely varying viewers. The wide panning shots do great in conveying a sense of space in the large Park residence, and sequence shots make the viewer feel as though they are there with the characters, watching their lives unfold. Now he leads a pleasant life in the mansion with his wife Yeon-Kyo and two children. A fight breaks out in the living room of the house, and the Kims manage to get Moon-gwang and her husband down into the bunker, but suddenly, Mrs. Park calls and tells Chung-sook that they are heading home after the campgrounds flooded from a rainstorm. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! Suffice to say, the wealthy in any country survive on the labor of the poor, whether its the housekeepers, tutors, and drivers they employ, or something much darker. 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. The scene where we discover the bunker easily has the highest tension of all scenes in the movie. TURN BACK NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE FILM PLEASE!*. 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