It is plain to see why the Western world has taken to Parasite so much. With its universal themes of family and the issue of class, it is recognisable in many cultures. Its dark humour intertwined with a bigger social message is reminiscent of Get Out. The story of a family creating a devious plan to pull themselves out of poverty and the necessity of having to step on others for jobs like driver and housekeeper is something that can really resonate with modern class struggles.
The gap between the rich and poor is really what drives the story and highlights the real difference in perspective for those with money and those without on matters as simple and mundane as the weather. Bong Joon-Ho once again creates a compelling storyline around the issues of class and distribution of goods.
Full of twists and gritty cinematography, it is no surprise that it ended up being nominated as Best Picture. The actors’ portrayal of a family unit is convincing, the jokes and writing clever and entertaining. The storytelling is so vivid that the subtitles are barely noticeable, and it was encouraging to see the meaning of foreign film being challenged. For the majority outside of the UK and USA, most films are shown with subtitles. This film shows a bright future for those ‘foreign’ filmmakers hoping to hit the Western mainstream.
‘Parasite’ is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
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