Personal Response
This movie completely shocked me in the best way. It reminded me that modern cinema can be well produced and still tell a story that is not cliché. Bong Joon-ho’s story is incredible, creative, entertaining, and absolutely spooky. I can think of so many different lessons and important moments, but I will focus on my favorites.
I was devastated when Mr. Park was killed, because he did not have to die. I keep thinking about what actually pushed Ki Taek over the edge. Throughout the movie, there is constant criticism around odor, which makes sense given the family’s living situation, damp, underground, not very clean. Ki Taek starts becoming self-aware of his smell, and the turning point is when he realizes that odor is also tied to social class. The Kim family has been fantasizing about being wealthy, and then Ki Taek realizes that his smell betrays him, something so simple, so stupid, and yet so powerful. One of my favorite sequences is when everything is falling apart, the Kims escape the Park house, and they go back to their own neighborhood where everything is literally covered in sewage. The outside world is full of shit, and their home is full of shit, visually and metaphorically. Cinematographically, this was such a powerful moment and it connects directly to how inescapable their social reality is.
The moment when Ki Taek finally loses control is when Mr. Park reacts to the odor of the miserable man in the basement, and cannot stand his smell either. In that instant, Ki Taek understands that Mr. Park sees them as the same type of people. Does this mean that Ki Taek and the man in the basement belong to the same social class in Mr. Park’s eyes? That they both stink, and that their lives are equally disposable? The man in the basement has been living in terrible conditions, and now, in Mr. Park’s reaction, they are equal. Ouch.
Another quote that stayed with me was, “She is not kind and rich, she is kind because she is rich.” I do not completely agree with this, but it is an interesting way the Kim family justifies their lies and con artist behavior. It is almost like they are allowed to be bad because they are poor. This is a perfect example of victimhood, a phenomenon that shows up in real life more often than it should. People use it to justify poor behavior, as if being a victim automatically excuses everything they do.
Lastly, this is one of the times I really wished I spoke the language of the film. I am sure the movie would be even more impactful if I could understand every word exactly as it was written. I watched with Spanish subtitles, so it did not feel too distant to me, but it was still a bummer. Translation helps you follow the story, but it does not always carry the full meaning and intention behind the dialogue. Parasite is so carefully written that I know I missed some layers by not understanding the original Korean.