parasite character analysis
For example, Mr Park making callous comments at the expense of the Kim family which eventually lead to him getting stabbed, Mr Park pressuring Mr Kim to make a fool of himself at Da-songs birthday party with the threat of money, and the Parks only concerning themselves with Da-songs seizure despite the fact that Ki-jeong, someone who works for the Park family, had been stabbed at the birthday party. Improving the family's financial situation is the most important goal for Ki-Woo, and he remains hopeful of his future. He has good intentions, even if he is dishonest about how he achieves success, and just wants to create a better life for his family. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! When you move up the ladder, someone else has to be displaced. Over the course of a few pulse-quickening scenes, and unbeknown to the Parks, Chung-sook critically injures Moon-gwang by pushing her down the stairs, and Ki-taek traps Geun-se in the bunker. Living in a musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. His thoughtless comments were slowly building up resentment in Mr Kim, and further amplified the divide between the two families. Moon-kwangs appearance at the Park residence is when the film truly starts to take a shocking, sharp turn in pace and direction. Profession English tutor. Mr Park runs over to Moon-kwangs husband and pushes his body aside to retrieve the car key, but not before he wrinkles his nose at the smell that Moon-kwangs husband exudes. In our Parasite movie analysis video, this mid-point scene was the focus. He spoils his son and is rather alienated from his desires and happiness. Theres something off about Moon-kwangs unnamed husband. Challenge finding a way out of family's misfortune. Bong Joon-ho 's masterful film Parasite is a wicked and brutal satire about wealth disparity. The characters are a reason for the success and we've ranked how smart they are. 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. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows. She likes to play games with Ki-taek, calling him a cockroach and belittling him, as part of their marital dynamic. 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. For years the country has been producing some of the finest films and directors in the world of cinema, but Parasite has crossed new milestones in terms of global impact. Read the script for the award-winning foreign film and analyze all week. Since then, the Park family had never spent Da-songs birthday in the house. 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. GradeSaver "Parasite Characters". Its a conversation starter in ways we only get a few times a year, and further reminder that Bong Joon-ho is one of the best filmmakers working today. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Though Parasite cannot be confined to a single genre, it centers its focus on class struggle, a sort of precursor to the warfare of Bongs 2013 thriller Snowpiercer. The staircases represent divisions of class and power the Kims wonder upon wandering upstairs whether, in a just world, they would also belong among the rich, so far above ground; upon descending to their flooded apartment in a storm that merely throws off the Parks camping trip, the Kims are reminded of the disparities between the two families. Min-hyuk is a friend to the Kim family, primarily Ki-woo. Geun-se, driven mad by his own situation, smashes Ki-woo over the head with the rock and runs upstairs to the backyard, where he then stabs Ki-jung. 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. As Mrs Park eats in the kitchen, she shares with Mrs Kim the story of the trauma Da-song experienced when he was younger. Once the entire Kim family is employed in the Park household, the lower-class con-artists begin to assume more and more of this fabricated identity of wealth. GradeSaver "Parasite Summary". Parasite study guide contains a biography of Bong Joon-ho, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The director even created a hash tag to warn people not to spoil the movie for others. He is a violent and desperate man, and ends up going on a killing spree after the Kims kill his wife, Moon-gwang. This sets off Ki-taek, who stabs Park in the chest before running away and escaping into the basement bunker unseen. Perhaps he had just gone crazy, but choosing to go after more of the Kim family guaranteed that he would either be killed himself or that he'd land behind bars. Although Ki-Woo lacks the charisma his sister Ki-Jung exhibits, Ki-Woo is an excellent scammer. Trying to make long term plans for him to eventually marry Da-hye are laughed off by his family. Im someone who doesnt mind spoilers, but even I wouldnt wish the spoilers on my worse enemy. Kim's familywill be reminded of that chasm and the cruelty of inequity in ways you couldnt possibly predict. An American DIY Film Movement, When is Golden Hour? The Kim father and children quickly take cover as Mrs Kim decides to let Moon-kwang in. 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. What is the movie Parasite about? has many answers. Both parties have dark secrets, and both threaten to expose the other to the Park family, who remain above all the drama, currently unaware. So how do critics convey when a film truly is unexpectedly, brilliantly unpredictable in ways that feel revelatory? Parasite catapulted him to a different level of fame, earning him not only the first Academy Award for Best Picture to go to an international film, but also a unanimously-decided-upon Palme d'Or at Cannes. Create robust and customizable shot lists. The musty smell follows Ki-Jung wherever she visits, revealing her poverty. Because I plan on going to this school next year." For a moment, it seems as though the jig is up for the Kims as Mr Park is suspicious about the entire situation, but he foolishly chalks up the forgotten panties as a result of the chauffeur taking illegal drugs. 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. as Ki-jung ( Ki-taek's daughter ), Chang Hyae-jin He notices the flickering light and deciphers a coded message from his father. Parasite has a cynical view of how class operates in a capitalist society, but as Bong has said, its also painfully realistic. As the night wears on, the Kims manage to escape, running through the torrential downpour to reach their basement apartment in the slums. Thats all I can say without giving away major spoilers! Realizing that they are all related, Moon-gwang takes an incriminating video of them and threatens to send it to the Parks. We can also see small hints at each of the Kim family members background, such as Chung-Sook aka Mrs Kims medal for hammer-throw hung on the wall. And by the time she's left the Park family home, she is already making her next play by taking off her underwear and hiding them discreetly, but not so discreet that they can't be found by Dong-ik. 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? as Yeon-kyo ( Mr. Park's wife ), Choi Woo-shik Their quest for upward mobility is futile. 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. It is one of the most effective satires in recent memory. In our Parasite movie analysis video, this mid-point scene was the focus. RELATED: The 10 Worst Family Movies Of All Time, Ranked. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. After being added Hulus catalogue for exclusive streaming, it became the platforms most streamed film in both the independent and foreign film categories, reaching even more audience members and wowing them with its immaculate presentation and resonant themes. Ki-taek, who is hiding under the table, hears Mr. Park discuss his unsavory smell. Mr Kim is visibly affected, even sniffing his own shirt. Ki-woo wakes up in the hospital and learns about what happens. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Staircases are among the many things in Parasite that could be considered metaphorical, as becomes a refrain of the Kims son, Ki-woo (Choi Woo Shik). He quickly convinces the mother Yeon-kyo, the excellent Jo Yeo-jeong, that the son of the house needs an art tutor, which allows Kevins sister Jessica (Park So-dam) to enter the picture. There are plenty of examples of subtle foreshadowing all throughout this opening act that circle back around by the end of the film. Mr Kim, tasked with managing Moon-kwang and her husband, struggles to subdue them both in the basement bunker. Stick with me here. The record-setting trend continued for the Parasite film. If he is ever caught, he may suffer the death penalty for committing a murder. I left the cinema with my heart racing thats just how impactful this movie was. The contrast in appearance between the Kims semi-basement home and the lavish home of the Park family is impossible to miss. Hes going to get his whole family into this house. 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. 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. Grabbing the knife Geun-se wielded, Ki-taek stabs Mr. Park and runs away. Moon-kwang reveals that a large cabinet in the basement is actually hiding the entrance to a secret underground bunker, where her husband (Park Myung-hoon) had been living in secret the past few years. He fatally wounds Ki-jeong, stabbing her through the chest as the party guests erupt into panic and scatter. Scott Myers 41K Followers Follow More from Medium Scott Myers in Go Into The Story The Question and Answer section for Parasite is a great The use of smell in the film is a great analogy for how the Kims literally stink of poverty to the Parks. The Parks suddenly call, informing Mrs Kim that they would be arriving home in 8 minutes. Alongside actor Choi Woo-sik, he explains the significance of production design elements from the beginning of the film, such as the cultural context of scholars stones in South Korea and the idea of distant hope conveyed by the semi-basement window. 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. He has held a bunch of different jobs, working as a valet and at a bakery, but struggles to provide for his family. She is very nice, but not especially deep or compassionate. Be sure to watch our video essay on the scene for more detail and deeper Parasite analysis. It is the only way Ki-Jung relieves her stress from the reality. They get Ki-taek a job as Mr. Park's driver, after Ki-jung leaves her underwear in the car to make it look like his previous driver was having a sexual relationship in the car. This causes Da-song to faint, and Mr. Park (Lee Sun Kyun) immediately demands that Ki-taek drive them to the hospital instead of tending to Ki-jung. Their camping trip had been cancelled due to the heavy downpour. Living in a small, musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. Moon-Gwangs return to the house and eventual reveal of the secret basement keeps us on the edges of our seats as viewers and seamlessly blends from the drama/comedy centered first half into the thriller/tragedy centered latter half. Bong Joon-ho displays a mastery over genres and tones with this mid-point shift. "Parasite" is a marvelously entertaining film in terms of narrative, but theres also so much going on underneath about how the rich use the poor to survive in ways that I cant completely spoil here (the best writing about this movie will likely come after its released). He also meets Da-hye, the flirtatious teenager he will be tutoring, and Da-song, her younger brother, for whom Mrs. Park is trying to find an art tutor. 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. 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. The film's setup has a poor family, the Kims, infiltrating the lives of a wealthy family, the . Chung-sook takes over as the housekeeper. Cho Yeo-jeong Ki-woo cant seem to let go of the decorative rock, a symbol of his constant yearning for stability. 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. capture a large family group in a single frame. How could they possibly compare to a couple leeching off the Parks like this? 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. The article breaks down how to identify and breakdown set elements in a screenplay. The family also laments that the rich are only nice because money is like an iron it irons out all the creases in your life, making life smooth and untainted. Especially one with so many twists and turns that the best writing about it will be long after spoiler warnings arent needed? Its no accident that the lower-class protagonists happen to have the single most common surname in South Korea. Mr. Park is the head of the Park household. Ki-jeong is usually one step ahead of Ki-woo and really solidifies getting the Kim family into the Park family home. On his birthday, a day like today, he had snuck down to the kitchen to eat his birthday cake, but Moon-kwangs husband had snuck up the basement stairs and made eye contact with Da-song. He deciphers a message, delivered in Morse code via a flickering light, that his father now inhabits the bunker. The thought that the panties were placed their intentionally to sabotage the chauffeur did not even cross Mr Parks mind. The film is packed with social commentary, thrilling moments, and plenty of meaty writing worthy of a full Parasite movie analysis. The entire Kim family, beginning with Ki-woo, soon scam their way into different jobs for the Park family. The script for Parasite will get a ton of attention as its one of those clever twisting and turning tales for which the screenwriter gets the most credit (Bong and Han Jin-won, in this case), but this is very much an exercise in visual language that reaffirms Bong as a master. Its so clichd at this point in the critical conversation during the hot take season of festivalsto say, Youve never seen a movie quite like X. Such astatement has become overused to such a degree that its impossible to be taken seriously, like how too many major new movies are gifted the m-word: masterpiece. In this scene, Ki-jeong cuts her finger on a piece off glass as shes sweeping them under the couch. Dong-ik isn't a terrible guy, but he isn't a great one either. They take the affluent home as their own while the Parks are away and thats when Moon-gwang shows back up and everything changes. 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! Ki-woo hasnt yet executed the vision, recalling his fathers earlier advice that the only way to fulfill a plan is to not make one at all. Get entertainment recommendations for your unique personality and find out which of 5,500+ I interpreted the fortune rock as a satirical symbol of the Kim familys burdens and guilt at the circumstances, literally weighing down Ki-woo and revealing his presence as he drops it when sneaking up on Moon-kwang and her husband. Kim Ki-woo (Choi Woo-sik) and his family live on the edge of poverty. Not only does she completely fall for Ki-woo's masquerading as an English tutor to Da-hye, but she proceeds to hire every other member of the Kim family without doing very much due diligence. Da-song was so shocked at seeing a strange man creep up the stairs with his bug-eyes wide open that he suffered a seizure, and this trauma also explains for the many creepy portraits that Da-song draws. Living in a small, musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. Moon-kwangs constant wails of Husband! Yes, he receives help from Ki-jeong and Ki-woo with the peaches, but he is the one who must do the talking afterward. When the Kims move into the Parks' house, Ki-woo notes that Ki-jung seems to fit in well with the trappings of wealth, and can carry off a luxurious lifestyle naturally. Yes, it wouldn't have taken as much skill as she demonstrated to convince Yeon-gyo to be Da-song's new art therapist, but she plays the part so well that it positions her charge an exorbitant sum of money. The film is obviously a social commentary on the class divide in South Korea, but its so much more than that. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. And every single element of the film from the scholars stone, to the architecture of the homes, to the very names of the families all contribute to this central theme. It is the only common factor between the Parks' young boy and Ki-Woo. ki-woo's sister, smart and tough, gains the upper hand with mrs. park by expressing expertise and confidence, says she . It seems that Ki-jeong had the most passive hand to play in the situation despite setting off the entire disastrous plot, never going as far as Ki-woo as he forms a romantic relationship with the Parks daughter, or harbouring as much resentment against the Parks as Mr and Mrs Kim. Each family has their own desperate reasons to continue leeching off the wealth of the Parks, and both would stop at nothing to do what is best or necessary for their family. Bong has made several films about class (including "Snowpiercer" and "Okja"), but Parasite may be his most daring examinationof the structural inequity that has come to define the world. The film starts with the Kim family, a South Korean family struggling with poverty in a poor neighborhood in an unnamed city. He writes his own letter back, in which he dreams about buying the house for himself and reuniting his family. 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. One night, as the Parks are away on a camping trip to celebrate Da-songs birthday, the Kims break into the liquor cabinet and lounge in the Parks living room getting drunk and discussing their newfound comfort and the precarious situation. To take advantage of all of CharacTours features, you need your own personal And then Bong takes a hard right turn that asks us what were watching and sends us hurtling to bloodshed. Parasite director Bong Joon-hos insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked-about films of the year and set a new precedent for the mark a South Korean movie can leave on United States movie-going audiences. Official synopsis: Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. Ki-woo visits the Parks in their gigantic home, where he is introduced to the spacey and out-of-touch Mrs. Park. Soon enough, Ki-woo and Ki-taek secure positions in the Park household for their parents as well. Has also tied the record with Walt Disney for most Oscars awarded to an individual at a single ceremony. Suddenly, the Kims fall down the stairs of the bunker in a pile, after listening in on the conversation. Ki-taek, who acted upon his anger, still remains beneath another rich family. The only thing I can think of is that the original housekeeper was in contact with the original tutor of the family. Profession English tutor. Parasite has proven to be a groundbreaking achievement for South Korean movies. 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. Reading scripts. It perfectly encapsulated each moment of the film, whether it was absurdist humour, dark humour, escalating tension, or setting the tone for future revelations. 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, the exquisite building is home to Yeon-Kyo, her husband Dong-Ik, and her two children. Bonus points: sharing my fave moments only, because every scene in the movie is priceless. It also makes perfect sense to me that a family would have the same smell as they live in the same house and use the same soaps and detergents. Ki-Jung's family was much better off in her childhood when her father owned a cake shop. How to Capture the Perfect Light. And, if you would like a deep-dive into the inner workings of the screenplay, be sure to read our Parasite script teardown. These themes cross all cultural-barriers and can speak to the 99% anywhere in the world. Guen-sae may not be the brightest of the bunch, but he's not entirely an idiot either. As Ki-woo first arrives at the Park house, were treated to an awe-inspiring view of the front lawn an immaculately manicured space with trimmed hedges and trees surrounding the perimeter. 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. "Parasite" concludes where it begins, in the semi-basement apartment. And what do we do when we see an actual masterpiece in this era of critics crying wolf?