Bong Joon-ho seems to be incapable of making anything less than stellar films and this one might be his very best. Parasite is wickedly funny, stunningly tragic, and gorgeously constructed.
The film takes visual storytelling to new heights with a vertical landscape that reflects the themes of the story. The film explores the division of class with humor and compassion. No one is immune from critique, there are no preachy overtones to grate on you. Just a story about some people trying to survive in the world and the obstacles our world creates for them, and ones they create for themselves.
They may be little known in the United States but the cast are all accomplished actors and their performances reflect that, giving a sense of weight and depth to characters that could’ve come off as punchlines if done wrong. Song Kang-Ho in particular, stands out for his layered performance as the father of the poor family. The dialogue translates well, remaining insightful and quotable as well as frequently hilarious.
The technical aspects of the film all work flawlessly to enhance the storytelling while remaining largely invisible, the sound design is atmospheric and engrossing, the visuals are so striking you can often tell what’s happening in detail without a single word being uttered just by paying attention to the visual design.
A truly remarkable film that deserves to be watched and taken to heart. Even if you’re not usually one to give foreign cinema a shot, this is an accessible and thoroughly enjoyable film from beginning to end.
10/10 First a trickle, then a flood