by: Eva Zerega
The Oscar-nominated film, Parasite, is a must-see. Parasite is a thriller set in South Korea, where class discrimination threatens the symbiotic relationship between the Kim family and the wealthy Park family whom the Kims work for. It is felt by many that Parasite is a movie best seen with no context in order to get the full effect of the shocking and turbulent plot.
A well-paced plot pulls the viewer in and suddenly escalates, jarring the viewer, and making them think about the characters and their motivations. As the pace picks up, the viewer is thrown into the wild life of the Kim’s quest for a better life. When the Kim’s are struggling they are brought a rock of fortune and the Kim son is offered a job to take over for his friend leading to a series of events that illustrate the struggles of the lower class and the challenges and discrimination they face, and just how far they will go to succeed. The film raises awareness of class discrimination and wealth gaps in South Korea. The film encompasses a variety of genres; drama, thriller, and horror, appealing to a wide range of viewers. The director, Bong Joon-Ho, described the film as, “a comedy without clowns, a tragedy without villains,” describing the film nearly perfectly once again because of the complex plot levels and the lesson it teaches. Parasite won a total of four Oscars this 2020 season including, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Original Screenplay. By winning both Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film, Parasite became the first foreign language winner of best picture, making history. Go see to this record-breaking film and see for yourself how the topic provokes global awareness.