Parasite (2019 film)

Parasite (2019 film)
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Name	Parasite
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Bong Joon-ho
Producer	Kwak Sin-ae, Moon Yang-kwon, Jang Young-hwan, Bong Joon-ho
Writer	Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won
Starring	Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun, Jang Hye-jin
Music	Jung Jae-il
Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo
Editing	Yang Jin-mo
Studio	Barunson E&A
Distributor	CJ Entertainment
Released	2019, 05, 21, Cannes, 2019, 05, 30, South Korea
Runtime	132 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	₩15.5 billion, ($13.5 million)
Gross	$263.1 million

Parasite (2019 film) is a South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won. The film follows the impoverished Kim family, who scheme to become employed by the wealthy Park family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. It premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or, and became a major international critical and commercial success, noted for its exploration of social stratification and class conflict.

Plot

The story centers on the Kim family—father Ki-taek, mother Chung-sook, son Ki-woo, and daughter Ki-jung—who live in a cramped semi-basement apartment in Seoul and struggle financially. Ki-woo is recommended by his friend, a university student, to take over as an English tutor for the teenage daughter of the affluent Park family, who reside in a modernist mansion designed by a famous architect. After forging a university diploma, Ki-woo is hired by the naive mother, Yeon-kyo. He then orchestrates the hiring of his sister, Ki-jung, as an art therapist for the Parks' young, impressionable son. Through a series of elaborate deceptions, the Kims manage to replace the Park family's existing chauffeur and housekeeper, Moon-gwang, with Ki-taek and Chung-sook, respectively. Their carefully constructed ruse is threatened when the former housekeeper returns to the mansion, revealing a hidden secret in the home's basement that escalates into tragic and violent confrontation during a chaotic birthday party for the Parks' son.

Cast

* Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, the patriarch of the Kim family. * Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik, the wealthy, aloof father of the Park family. * Cho Yeo-jeong as Choi Yeon-kyo, the gullible and kind-hearted Park mother. * Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo, the Kims' son who initiates the infiltration plan. * Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung, the resourceful and artistic Kim daughter. * Lee Jung-eun as Gook Moon-gwang, the Parks' former housekeeper. * Jang Hye-jin as Kim Chung-sook, the Kim matriarch. * Park Myung-hoon as Oh Geun-sae, Moon-gwang's husband who lives secretly in the basement. * Jung Ji-so as Park Da-hye, the Parks' teenage daughter. * Jung Hyeon-jun as Park Da-song, the Parks' young son.

Production

Development began when director Bong Joon-ho collaborated with writer Han Jin-won on the initial script, inspired by his own experiences as a tutor. Principal photography commenced in May 2018 and lasted 77 days, with cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo. The two central houses were constructed as detailed sets; the Park mansion was built on a Goyang studio lot, while the Kims' semi-basement apartment set was created separately. The film's score was composed by Jung Jae-il, and editing was handled by Yang Jin-mo. The production was led by Barunson E&A and financed by CJ Entertainment.

Themes and analysis

The film is a pointed satire of capitalism and the extreme income inequality in contemporary South Korea. It uses the architectural metaphor of people living literally above and below one another to illustrate rigid social class hierarchies. The title refers to both the poor Kim family, who leech off the wealthy Parks, and the wealthy family's parasitic dependence on the labor of the underclass. Scholars and critics have analyzed its commentary on the illusion of social mobility, the lingering trauma of the Asian financial crisis, and the violent consequences of economic desperation. The film's tone masterfully blends genres, shifting from comedy to thriller to tragedy.

Release and reception

The film had its world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019, before its domestic release in South Korea on May 30 by CJ Entertainment. Its international distribution was handled by Neon in the United States and Altitude Film Distribution in the United Kingdom. It received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its screenplay, direction, performances, and thematic depth. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 99% approval rating, and it performed exceptionally well at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing South Korean films in history.

Accolades

The film achieved unprecedented recognition in Western award circuits. At the 92nd Academy Awards, it made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won the Academy Award for Best Director for Bong Joon-ho, the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Other major honors include the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and four awards at the 56th Grand Bell Awards, including Best Film. Its success is widely seen as a landmark moment for Korean cinema and global film.

Category:2019 films Category:South Korean films