ReelBob: ‘Parasite’ ★★★★
By Bob Bloom
The Kim family — father, mother and adolescent son and daughter — has nowhere to go but up.
They live in a cramped basement apartment, surviving by folding pizza boxes for money.
But the family, especially father Kim, has aspirations. The elder Kim is more schemer than dreamer.
And the foursome, thanks to a friend of son Kim Ki-woo may have found a way to begin climbing their first rung up the ladder to a better life.
That appears to be the premise of Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.”
But similar to the director’s earlier movies such as “Snowpiercer” and “The Host,” what you see can be deceiving or change in an instant.
Ki-woo is asked by a friend to replace him as an English tutor for the young daughter of the wealthy Park family.
The young man, calling himself Kevin, is interviewed by Mrs. Park, meets his pupil and accepts the job.
Seeing how well the Parks live, Kevin hits upon a plan to insinuate the rest of his family into the lives of the Parks, thus ensuring a steady income — and perhaps figuring a way to procure some of their wealth.
Step-by-step, the Kims latch onto the family — Kevin’s sister, Kim Ki-jung, as an art therapist-teacher for the Park’s young son, the elder Kim as Mr. Park’s driver and Mrs. Kim as the family’s housekeeper-cook.
Bong Joon Ho has more on his mind than a story about a family of grifters.
Indeed, he is making a statement about economic inequality, the desperate search for financial security and the yearning for stability.
At first, the relationship is symbiotic. The Kims provide comfortable services to the gullible Parks, who, in turn are supporting the entire Kim household — unaware that their new employees are one family.
But tensions begin to rise, especially between Mr. Kim and Mr. Park. The smug employer is condescending to his driver, constantly talking down to him and treating him as an inferior.
All Kim wants is to be treated with respect, which he believes his boss continually denies him.
Otherwise, life is going swimmingly for the Kims.
Bong’s tone shifts dramatically during a stormy weekend in which the Parks have gone camping, leaving the Kims to indulge in the luxuries of the Park mansion.
Let’s just say that what Bong begins as a social satire is transformed into an upsetting and ominous manifesto about dashed dreams and sunken expectations.
To divulge any more details would be a crime. “Parasite” needs to be seen unencumbered by too much knowledge. Bong provides a master class in filmmaking; his visual style and framing of shots keeps you involved and anxious about what is to come.
“Parasite” is one of the best movies of the year — foreign or domestic. It should be seen and savored as well as applauded for its audacity and precision.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
PARASITE
4 stars out of 4
(R), graphic violence, language, sexual content