Not just the first South Korean film to win the Best International Film award at the Oscars, but also the first foreign language film from any country to win the overall Best Picture award. Parasite’s four Oscars came as a surprise as most film critics had expected the Best Picture award to go to Sam Mendes’ 1917. Class, Morality, and Capitalism in ‘Parasite’. How They Bring Movies to Life. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques. The cultural swell around Parasite is much deserved and hopefully leads more audience members to check out Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s previous films, and more South Korean cinema in general. Its success is due to the fact that it encapsulates the parasitic relationship between the rich and the working class. 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The article breaks down how to identify and breakdown set elements in a screenplay. I also went through other articles, as they contain the information that I need. This can be applied metaphorically between two humans. An American DIY Film Movement, What is a Foley Artist? “Parasite” is a cross over hit, becoming the first South Korean film ever nominated for an Oscar. This secret basement reveals an even lower level of status below what we had thought was the floor with the Kim family. Follow the image link to explore the storyboard in further detail. Parasite is a fable about economic equality, which means there are many lessons that we as a society should take from it. He explains the significance of production design elements, such as the cultural context of scholar’s stones in South Korea. I just felt that frankness was right for the film, even though it's sad.". Similarly, Chung-sook, the mother, replaces Moon-gwang, the housekeeper who has served the home longer than the Park’s have even lived there. Her secret unravels: she's been hiding Geun-se, her debt-ridden husband, in the basement all this time. And when I say “we”, I obviously mean “rich people”. For more Parasite movie analysis, check out our article on how Bong Joon-ho creates meaning through set dressing. The Kims - mother and father Chung-sook and Ki-taek, and their young adult offspring, son Ki-woo and daughter Ki-jung - are a poor family living in a shabby and cramped half basement apartment in a busy lower working class commercial district of Seoul. Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. To understand the ending of Parasite, you probably have to dissect the word "parasite," which means "An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense." Sometimes we call these things "charged objects." Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows. He’s skewered class in all of his films to some degree. Bong Joon-ho has explained the reason behind the title of his 2019 film, revealing that " Parasite " has a dual meaning in this case. A tonal shift this extreme could easily take viewers out of the film, or feel like a ‘jumping the shark’ moment, but in the hands of Bong Joon-ho, this shift is portrayed in a way that not only feels effortless, but greatly enhances each half of the film that precedes or follows it. Parasite, Bong’s latest, gut-twisting, Cannes Award–winning film, is no different. One of the main reasons why Parasite was such a massive success around the world in 2019 is because of its themes and messages of classism and the wealth divide, which are truly universal. Oscars 2020: IGN’s Reviews of the Best Picture Nominees. Parasite is a film that is jam-packed with symbolism and metaphors and there are none more central to the film’s plot than the Scholar Stone. One clear one to explain the movie is: “Parasite is about class.” Class is the primary target of social commentary within Parasite and every single element from the scholar’s stone, the architecture, the very names of the families, all contribute to this central theme. Lee Jeong-eun, who plays Moon-Gwang the housekeeper, also provided the vocalization for Okja, the eponymous super-pig in Bong Joon-ho’s previous film. The real Parasite movie ending is more bleak, and unfortunately, more realistic. One clear one to explain the movie is: “ Parasite is about class.” Class is the primary target of social commentary within Parasite and every single element from the scholar’s stone, the architecture, the very names of the families, all contribute to this central theme. They take on odd jobs for cash like folding pizza boxes, and they rely on unprotected wi-fi networks and street-cleaning pesticides to keep their home insect free. Parasite might be sounding an alarm about modern capitalism, but it is a phenomenon too entrenched that could only be improved rather than fixed. Parasite Movie: Plot Explained. Equally impressive was Parasite becoming the first South Korean movie to win the Palme d’Or, the top prize of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Ki-taek, the father, begins working as the Park family chauffeur after the Kims have their previous chauffeur removed. Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked about films of the year. Symbols give you a way to sway the audience. It was a foam prop, one of two that were custom made to serve as stand-ins for Parasite 's mysterious "landscape rock," the most enigmatic metaphor of Bong's metaphor-stuffed film. 1. Before we get into the nitty-gritty inside the movie, let's put down our peaches and talk about symbols. So let's get into the movie. The real deception is carried out by the Kims, and works flawlessly. I have gone through your article and really find it to be helpful. Living in a half basement apartment that's cramped, the Kim family struggled to survive financially. Your email address will not be published. The shifts happen so quickly, in fact, that we need to examine this scene in detail. 'Parasite' What does the ending of Parasite mean? Without even knowing it, they, especially Mr. and Mrs. Kim, literally smell of poverty. Ki-woo, the son, is gifted a scholar’s stone or suseok by a friend and given a recommendation for a tutoring job with a wealthy family. Parasite introduces us to the Kim family, who—one by one—start working for the super wealthy Park family. All three families at play are damaged by this explosive act of violence. For more Parasite movie analysis, straight from the auteur himself, check out this scene breakdown from Bong Joon-ho. It depicts the current economic model as one that is wholly unforgiving, truly relentless, and nearly impossible to penetrate. The satire, and everything that follows is either derivative of it or directly stems from it. Bong Joon-ho As we know by now, Parasite is not a sequel to The Host, Bong Joon-ho's 2006 breakout film about a monster that emerges that emerges … Parasite broke a number of financial records as well, including the highest foreign film opening weekend of all time for the UK box office, and a number of records with the Indie Box Office. The record setting trend continues for the Parasite film. The movie's biggest twist reveals itself after the Parks go camping. Power shifts between Moon-gwang and her incognito husband, and the Kim family, as both lower-class families fight for leverage over each other. Both parties have dark secrets, and both threaten to expose the other to the Park family, who remain above the drama, unaware. Parasite director Bong Joon-ho became the first South Korean filmmaker to win Best Director at the Academy Awards. Lover of foreign films; hater of American remakes. The topic of class is one that Bong Joon-ho has a clear fascination with. Parasite, which centers on two families on opposite ends of the economic scale whose lives become intertwined, melds Bong’s trademark talent for … Ki-jung begins working for the parks under the guise of an art-therapy teacher. 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. The Real Meaning of Parasite's Ending As was already mentioned, Parasite is one of the more pessimistic of Bong Joon-ho's politically sensitive and important films. Elevation clearly equates to status; the Park’s have a multi-level home at the top of the hill while the Kim’s live below street level and the surprise 3rd party lives deep underground. It also set a new precedent for how a South Korean movie can connect with American audiences. The film is packed with social commentary, thrilling moments, and plenty of meaty writing worthy of a full Parasite movie analysis. A visual medium requires visual methods. “What is the movie Parasite about?” has many answers. Parasite is a movie rife with symbolism. Bong Joon-ho ’s masterful film Parasite is a wicked and brutal satire about wealth disparity. During the stormy night, the old housekeeper Moon-kwang begs the Kims to let her in. Parasite has a lot worthy of analysis, and it has a lot to say. “What is the movie Parasite about?” has many answers. The Kims slowly ingratiate themselves with the Parks, starting with their son Ki … Parasites are scary worm-like organisms that live inside bodies and steal nutrients. Parasite, the award-winning, oscar-nominated, Korean film by Bong Joon-ho released October 5, 2019, has gotten much recognition for its many important messages on our modern-day society. Create robust and customizable shot lists. It’s no accident that the lower-class protagonists happen to have the single most common surname in South Korea. The tone and genre don't just switch once, they are constantly oscillating between the two throughout this sequence. To do that, we created a StudioBinder storyboard that isolates the key moments. Blood is shed and deaths are cast at the birthday party of the Park family’s youngest child. This thriller, drama, and original film explores many themes of social class and discrimination among society, that most will fail to recognize. The best example is what the Ki-Woo's good luck charm, the Scholar's Stone, represents. Follow along with the Parasite script as StudioBinder is used to recreate what the actual script breakdown may have looked like. In our Parasite movie analysis, we found that although the tone and style change, the themes at play remain consistent from the first half to the second half, and continue to be developed further as the film progresses. Expect me to keep checking for more. It wasn’t just awards records that Parasite broke in 2019. The viewing stone … Chung-sook is framed as deceiving the family by hiding a dangerous illness. To explain Parasite’s ending, we turn to the director’s own words: “You know and I know — we all know that this kid isn't going to be able to buy that house. Violence erupts and the prophetic scholar’s stone becomes an instrument of violence. This vertical comment on status is illustrated cleanly in this alternate poster for the film. Sam Kench is an internationally-awarded screenwriter, independent filmmaker, and film critic. By Douglas Laman Feb 15, 2020 Parasite is a movie rife with symbolism, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the Scholar Stone, an object lugged around by the film's protagonist, Kim Ki-woo (Choi Woo-Shik). So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? Ki-woo and his sister Ki-jung forge credentials for the job, and thus begins the long-con that sees each member of the Kim family infiltrating the upper-class Park family one-by-one. For me, Parasite is best described as a melancholy ghost story, albeit one disguised beneath umpteen layers of superbly designed (and impeccably photographed) generic mutations. We’re here to help. Moon-Gwang’s return to the house and eventual reveal of the secret basement keeps us on the edge of our seats as viewers and seamlessly blends from the drama/comedy centered first half into the thriller/tragedy centered latter half. But she finds ammo to use against the Kims, learning that they're a family and that they're fixed on sc… They are objects bearing the weight of metaphor. Bong Joon-ho's Set Dressing in Parasite →, The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template), How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet), The Only Shot List Template You Need — with Free Download, Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template), A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet, Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates), Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked, Best Kids Movies of All Time — Classics Every Kid Should See, Different Types of Poems and Poem Structures — A Writer’s Guide, Black Panther Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis, Aesthetic Photography — Composition, Lighting, and Color. We’re in a golden age of TV writing and development. Parasite represents the most focused and refined approach to class as a subject that Bong Joon-ho has achieved, and that’s certainly saying something given his impressive body of work. Hello Sam! What is Mumblecore? Who knew that a … We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. Parasite has proven to be a groundbreaking achievement for South Korean movies. 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. Prior to Parasite in 2019, his most focused social commentary on class was found in Snowpiercer (2013), which saw the lower class positioned at the back of a train in squalid conditions while the wealthy lived large up front. The first half of Parasite plays out largely as a comedy-drama with a compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes. The Kim family may be below the Parks in status, but even they can look down on Moon-gwang and her husband. Bong Joon-ho As we know by now, Parasite is not a sequel to The Host, Bong Joon Ho 's 2006 breakout film about a monster that emerges that emerges from the … So, what are the 2 biggest symbols in Parasite according to the video? But everyone agreed that the movie deserved the awards. They are tangible objects within the story that represent something larger than what they are. – Parasite Movie Meaning: Who is the parasite? A savage battle breaks out between two Korean families who have been greatly benefiting from one another. Has also tied Walt Disney for most Oscars awarded to an individual at a single ceremony. How did Bong Joon-ho switch so effortlessly between comedy and thriller? The Kim family lives in a semi-basement and struggles to keep food on the table. The analysis of the social context in Parasite (2019) One of the very first issues, touched by Bon Joon Ho in Parasite (2019), is how crucial it is to have connections or highly-valued credentials in South Korea.Early on in the film, Ki-woo (protagonist of the film) forges a uni degree, and as the family joins his grand life-winning scheme, they go to the moon and beyond in covering up their lies. The Kims celebrate their newfound employment over food and drinks at the estate. Hidden Meanings Behind the "Parasite" Movie (Spoilers) Reviewed by Joy Ramos Davis Synopsis: Selected by "Conscious Movie Reviews," "Parasite" is an action and adventure drama from South Korea. Following the film’s major twist, Parasite continues in a far darker tone until it’s ending. More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. The Kim family is destroyed; Ki-jung is killed, Ki-woo is left brain damaged, and Ki-taek is forced into hiding after he snaps and acts out a classism-driven murder in the chaos of the birthday party. At its exact mid-point, Parasite undergoes a massive tonal shift — this is the focus of our Parasite analysis. They take the affluent home as their own while the Parks are away… and that’s when Moon-gwang shows back up and everything changes. Gisaengchung as it is called in native Korean, or ‘Parasite’ as it is known otherwise worldwide, is first and foremost a social drama. After being added Hulu’s catalogue for exclusive streaming, it became the platform’s most streamed film in both the independent and foreign film categories. Director Bong Joon-ho and his film Parasite swept the Oscars, bring back four awards. Parasite’s ending features a sequence of Ki-woo’s plan to work hard, buy the house under which his own father now hides, and reunite the family… but this plan is nothing but a fantasy. Photo Credit: Catchplay Instant noodles with steak Let’s have a quick look at the definition of a parasite: An organism that lives in or on another and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense.