Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy thriller is a cinematic masterpiece that examines class tension and the urban poor within contemporary society in Seoul, South Korea. Through masterful storytelling, characters with questionable morals and effortlessly sleek cinematography, the film stands as an important and timely critique of South Korean society. 

The film sees a collision of two families from contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds: the wealthy Parks family and the Kim family who are enduring urban poverty in a basement flat. 

When the son of the Kim family begins tutoring the Parks daughter, the whole Kim family eventually deceives their way into becoming employees of the Parks family. The Parks are entirely unaware of this deception. While audience members follow a montage of comedic moments and dark twists for 132 minutes, the plot also unravels an important conversation about South Korea. In reference to the title of the film, Bong Joon Ho asks the question: “Who is the parasite? The rich or the poor?” 

“Parasite” and the Urban Poor 

The movie instantly establishes the apparent hierarchy of class as the Kim family peers out at the streets above their basement apartment where the urban poor have had to settle. This is a strong contrast to the Parks family whose house, or mansion, walled off and on a hill, is far away from the ferality of the streets, symbolizing their wealth and status. 

Although the narrative is purely fictional, Bong Joon Ho’s depiction of poverty and class is a harsh reality for many Soeul civilians. New York Times writer Chloe Sang-Hun articulates this well as she describes how “Parasite” “mesmerized viewers around the world by exposing a much grimmer side of South Korea’s economic growth: urban poverty, and the humiliation and class strife it has spawned.” 

Kim Ssang-seok is a 63-year-old taxi driver who has known the reality of urban poverty for decades. In an interview with the New York Times, he explains how he will only see sunlight in his apartment for 30 minutes of the day and struggles to fight against the cockroaches and smell of sewage that lingers in his home. He experiences the constant anxiety that the city will remove his neighborhood to replace it with towering apartment buildings to add to the growing Seoul skyline. 

The Power of Storytelling

Although “Parasite” is a fictional story, the poignant theme of poverty is far from fictional; it is an important issue that must be addressed. Storytelling, in this case through film, is a key component in pushing towards social change. Through storytelling, important issues surrounding global poverty can reach audiences that otherwise would not educate themselves on global issues like Seoul’s urban poor. Entertainment is powerful in its ability to start a conversation and alter individuals’ beliefs and attitudes regarding social issues. Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” is a perfect example of this and the reason why everyone should watch the film. 

– Poppy Harris
Photo: Flickr