parasite character analysis

"Parasite" is a film that follows 10 main characters up close (8 of whom are shown below - the other two are not shown for obvious reasons which will become apparent after you have witnessed the movie) with 10 different "characteristics" that need to be captured in the frame - the looks, the personality, the deep pathos that oozes from each character's situation and by giving us . What they dont realise is the effects their actions have. Lover of foreign films; hater of American remakes. The operatic music and effects when Mrs Park spotted Moon-kwang coughing into a tissue as she ascends the stairs into the house. Prior to Parasite in 2019, his most focused social commentary on class was found in his 2013 film Snowpiercer which saw the lower class positioned at the back of a train in squalid conditions while the wealthy lived large at the head of the train. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene BreakdownTuesday: PlotWednesday: CharactersThursday: ThemesFriday: DialogueSaturday: Takeaways. Acting on impulse, Ki-woo heads to a mountain near the house the Parks have since vacated, and which now belongs to a rich German family. When Ki-woo goes into the basement, Geun-sae attacks him and bludgeons him in the head with the rock. As the night wears on, the Kims manage to escape, running through the torrential downpour to reach their basement apartment in the slums. characters are most like you. In contrast to her brother Ki-Woo, Ki-Jung is too well-grounded to look for a potential love interest. Cho Yeo-jeong She calls Chung-sook sister, at which the Kims scoff. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Parasite Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) Living in a state-of-art mansion. Their camping trip had been cancelled due to the heavy downpour. Ki-taek may be out of work, but he's no dummy. Parasite dominated the Academy Award, including a Best Picture win. Parasites ending features a sequence of Ki-woos 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. The first half of Parasite plays out largely as a comedy-drama with a compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes. Living in a small, musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. son of kim family, smart and ambitious, feels held back by poverty, has good intentions even if he has to be dishonest, wants to create a better life for his family. Script Analysis: "Parasite" Part 3: Characters | by Scott Myers | Go Into The Story Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Its both a literal and metaphorical depiction of just how far removed the Park family and Kim familys circumstances are, and how far down the class divide the Kim family are from the Parks. Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. Same thing with script and movie analysis: Look at each character and think about why they exist and what their function is. Please enable Javascript and hit the button below! Thats all I can say without giving away major spoilers! Mrs Kim taking advantage of the open lawn to practice her hammer-throw skills, at the expense of someones window. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. We can't blame him too much for developing such trust in Ki-taek that he doesn't see his impending death coming right for him. 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. This sets off Ki-taek, who stabs Park in the chest before running away and escaping into the basement bunker unseen. This is especially impressive given how ethnocentric the Academy Awards often unfold, prioritizing English-language films over foreign-language films much of the time. They fold pizza boxes for a delivery company to make some cash, steal wi-fi from the coffee shop nearby, and leave the windows open when the neighborhood is being fumigated to deal with their own infestation. Following the films major twist, Parasite continues in a far darker tone until its ending. On that fateful day, he ran from the backyard with blood on his hands not Mr. Parks, as one might assume, but his own daughters. Im someone who doesnt mind spoilers, but even I wouldnt wish the spoilers on my worse enemy. After getting referred for a tutoring gig, he orchestrates a plan in which his whole family begins working for the same wealthy family. Mr Kim, already an accepting and adaptable character, was unknowingly triggered by Mr Parks reaction to Moon-kwangs husband as his pent-up resentment comes crashing through. I would LOVE to hear from other viewers on their theories on the film, so please feel free to share them with me. Parasite exploded this past weekend on Oscar night when it became the first international film to win four Academy Awards, including the coup de grace, Best Picture. 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? Guen-sae manages to get the jump on Ki-woo after he fails to murderGuen-sae with the rock given by Min. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 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. Living in a musty semi-basement in the slums of Seoul, South Korea. 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. Theres something off about Moon-kwangs unnamed husband. account. 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. 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. A third leads to the upper floor of the Parks stylish home. The visual effects Equally impressive was Parasite becoming the first South Korean movie to win the Palme dOr, which is the top prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. But rather than simply getting out of the Park house and trying to make it in the outside world, he goes on a rampage at the party for Da-song. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows. The cinematography was also amazing. 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. The scene where we discover the bunker easily has the highest tension of all scenes in the movie. His thoughtless comments were slowly building up resentment in Mr Kim, and further amplified the divide between the two families. After he gets the job, Ki-Woo proceeds to fetch employment for the rest of his family members--sister Ki-Jung as an art tutor, father Ki-Teak as a chauffeur, and lastly mom Chung-Sook as a housekeeper. Yes, he receives help from Ki-jeong and Ki-woo with the peaches, but he is the one who must do the talking afterward. She does an excellent job getting the house back in order before the Park family returns and discovers Moon-gwang and her husband, but she's unable to stop what's coming by then. What an astute observation for a young child, and this was such a key detail to throw in. The use of smell in the film is a great analogy for how the Kims literally stink of poverty to the Parks. 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! The record-setting trend continued for the Parasite film. The real deception is carried out by the Kims, and it works flawlessly. When the architect sold the mansion to the Park family, Moon-Gwang survived a change of ownership. She is seamless in her execution and rarely makes a misstep. This article was published more than3 years ago, Note: This story, as one might assume from its headline, contains major spoilers for Parasite.. An American DIY Film Movement, When is Golden Hour? Can the poor really just step into the world of the rich? This same subject of class is less overt in Parasite but far more grounded and effectively subtle to the point of never overshadowing the story being told for the sake of its themes. The Kims soon settle into their comfortable new life working for the Parks. The script for "Parasite" will get a ton of attention as it's 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.Working with the incredible cinematographer Kyung-pyo Hong ("Burning," "Snowpiercer") and an A-list . Min-hyuk believes that Ki-woo poses no threat to his chances of eventually connecting with his student, Da-hye, and he knows that Ki-woo needs the money, so it is a kind gesture. This vertical comment on status is illustrated cleanly in this alternate poster for the film, without spoiling the sub-basement reveal. The cultural swell around Parasite is much deserved and hopefully leads more audience members to check out Parasite director Bong Joon-hos previous films and more South Korean cinema in general. The real Parasite movie ending is more bleak and, unfortunately, more realistic. Chung-sook takes over as the housekeeper. Its here we can clearly see how money and richness have made the Parks blind and naive. I tried to avoid it. Characters from Parasite (2019). You would think that maybe before you hire someone else, you stop to think if maybe your household staff is disappearing faster than usual? Ki-woo, the son, is gifted a scholars stone or suseok by a friend and given a recommendation for a tutoring job with a wealthy family. Even though the film audience is treated to a scene of this happening, it is never confirmed whether it does as we ambiguously end the film back in the Kims tiny basement apartment and Ki-woo writing the letter. What ensues from this point on is a chaotic, discordant frenzy, where the tension set from the moment we discover the hidden bunker never eases. Today and maybe forever the Kims remain underground. Now, the exquisite building is home to Yeon-Kyo, her husband Dong-Ik, and her two children. When Da-song wants to sleep in a tent outside, Mr. and Mrs. Park sleep on the couch to watch over him. After their home is flooded, Ki-taek tells his son that it is best to never have a plan, since plans never work out the way one expects. Buy TVs. Electronics prices are defying inflation. As with every film, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so my interpretation here may be different from yours. After Geun-sae bludgeons him with it, Ki-woo emerges from a coma all the more motivated to ascend the class ladder, buy the Parks' home, and reunite with his father, who is living in the subterranean bunker. Parasite Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) Living in Park family's beautiful mansion in the wealthy neighborhoods of Seoul, South Korea. Synopsis. If he is ever caught, he may suffer the death penalty for committing a murder. His decision to kill Mr. Park at the end is a shocking and perhaps poor one, but not entirely unjustified. characters are most like you. How could they possibly compare to a couple leeching off the Parks like this? After waking up in the hospital, he and his mother are charged and put on probation. Dong-Ik purchased the beautiful home from its architect some time ago. Personality driven and flexible. Min-hyuk is a friend to the Kim family, primarily Ki-woo. Honestly, it may be a tie between Dong-ik and Yeon-gyo here as they both fall for the deceptions of Ki-jeong and the rest of the Kim family. He works as a list writer for Valnet, Inc. covering Screen Rant. Dong-ik isn't a terrible guy, but he isn't a great one either. Let me know if, like me, you wanted to re-watch the film from the top immediately after it ended. 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. Character Analysis. Perhaps Ki-jeong being killed off was due to her death having the most significant impact on the family and on the viewer. Nominated for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards, this Korean film certainly has a wide fanbase all over North America. The Analysis of the Oscar-Winning Movie: Parasite Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller movie directed by Bong Joon-ho and is the first film with a non-English script to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020. It is one of the most effective satires in recent memory. And finally, as we discover when the tone pivots from that of a heist comedy to a rather harrowing but still witty thriller, there is the secret set connecting the Parks basement to a bunker where the husband of the familys former housekeeper has been hiding from loan sharks for about four years. Since then, the Park family had never spent Da-songs birthday in the house. Parasite essays are academic essays for citation. The crime of the Park family is being unsympathetic, rude and selfish, despite their niceties and naivety. Seeing an opportunity to get his artistically talented sister, Ki-jung, a job, Ki-woo says that he knows someone named "Jessica" who went to college in Illinois, who might be perfect for the job. As Mrs Park eats in the kitchen, she shares with Mrs Kim the story of the trauma Da-song experienced when he was younger. Writing Exercise: Think about each character. Ki-Jung's family was much better off in her childhood when her father owned a cake shop. After getting referred for a tutoring gig, he and his mother are charged and put on probation as list. Monday: Scene-By-Scene BreakdownTuesday: PlotWednesday: CharactersThursday: ThemesFriday: DialogueSaturday: Takeaways building home. Someone who doesnt mind spoilers, but his own daughters significant impact on the family and on the.! Dong-Ik, and further amplified the divide between the two families the Award... 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parasite character analysis