Parasite (2019)

I am not a huge fan of director Bong Joon-ho. None of his films, despite being popular and trendy, thrill me. I don't hate any of them and have enjoyed them enough. But I don't see the reason film buffs fall all over themselves for him and his work. Parasite might be the film that turns a corner for me in my appreciation of his work.

Parasite begins as a comedy of errors, almost a Three's Company episode which starts to get more and more absurd as it progresses, but also as it progresses it gets darker and darker, until it becomes a almost terrifying, before ending on a note of hope, tragic but palpable hope. The film is funny even as it becomes disconcerting and uncomfortable. Bong Joon-ho has been interested before in class stratification analysis but Parasite might be his most daring and complete critique of social hierarchy. He merges recent masterpieces Us and Shoplifters into a comedy which makes you truly uncomfortable.

Parasite isn't without its flaws in my mind. The film's story is truly absurd and requires quite a bit of suspending reasonable doubt. At times this hurts its message. If the film had only aspired to be the absurdist comedy of people hiding under the table and mistaken identities, perhaps this would be easier to swallow but due to the heavier overtones that end up taking over, they are weakened by this.

But the power of the performances and the Bong Joon-ho's pacing, deliberately placing us in the hearts of the characters, on all sides, makes it worth suspending that belief enough to get there. The film is entertaining and engaging all the way through and takes us successfully to its end, and ending which will bring a little tear to your eye. And it will certainly make you think about it after.

Parasite
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam
Writer/Director: Bong Joon-ho