Parasite - A film of our times

I had vowed to start writing this year, but never imagined that my first post would be a movie review. Since that movie is Parasite and, it just rocked the Oscars, it is certainly the topical thing to do. Topically speaking, Parasite is most definitely a film for our unequal times. A film about an economically struggling family's relationship of dependence on a wealthy family, Parasite addresses surging cost of living, inadequate job opportunities and the ever widening physical and emotional chasm between haves and have nots. The haves in the audience will almost experience discomfort as they see their genteel, oblivious and naive selves in the well-heeled family of techpreneur Park, while those who live under leaky roofs in flood prone areas will feel the familiar angst of situations spinning out of their control. If they get to see the movie, that is. The putrid smell of economic hardship becomes an omnipresent character in the movie, the only one who, as the rich Mr Park says, is able to 'cross the line'.

It reminds me in bits of many movies including the Malayalam hit ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ and the Hugh Jackman-starrer ‘Prisoners’, among others. Houses and basements play significant roles in those films too but in this movie, the director uses every room in the house including bathrooms, multiple pieces of furniture and even kitchen utensils to bring alive the grandeur and calm on one side and the unlivable, unstable conditions on the other. Even when it rains equally hard across Seoul, only one of the two homes is affected. 

And the best part about the movie? It's hilarious and action-packed. Fast-paced scenes with high drama and snappy dialogues, you don't have time to feel sorry for anyone. Director Bong doesn't allow you to linger or pause for thought until the very end of the movie. Until that point, it feels like a rambunctious Korean masala movie. It's only after you walk away and let it sink in you realize - what the hell just happened in there? Just like the family in the film. Go watch.