TIFF '19 Film Review - Parasite

The Rich vs the Help is a is an age-old conflict that has fueled society and films for years. In the world constructed by writer-director Bong Joon-Ho for Parasite the city construct has the rich living up in the hills while the poor are down at sea level. The upper 1% is literally up in the hills looking down on the working class or lower folk below.

The Kim family are opportunists. The film opens with son Ki-woo (Choi Wook-sik) and sister (Park- So-Dam) peeved because the neighbours whose Wi-Fi connection they are steeling seem to have changed their password. The family job is to fold pizza boxes which they often don't do correctly and patriarch Bong muse Song Kang-ho as dad Kim Ki-taek thinks it's a good idea to leave the windows of their basement squatter apartment open as the fumigator sprays above seeing it as free fumigation.  Then Bong throws in the dagger. A homeless person regularly using the Kim's front step as a regular toilet.

The family's fortune takes an upswing when Ki-woo's friend leaves a plum tutoring job recommending him as a replacement. Soon the Kim's maneuver their whole family into employment at the Park's uptown residence unbeknownst to the owners that all of their current hires tutor, nanny, driver, and housekeeper are related.

Bong presents a masterstroke commentary on inequality in today's society. The film is filled with microaggressions that are usually let go but a key weather event at the end of the second act crystalizes the split between rich and poor pushing patriarch Kim Ki-taek to his breaking point. It's a powerful film with a timely message anchored by Bong's sense of humor and perfectly paced tempo in a piece that is destined for the top half of year end list likely to break South Korea's Oscar recognition drought.

**** Out of 4

Parasite | Bong Joon-Ho | South Korea | 2019 | 132 Minutes.

Tags: Grifters, Illegal Alien, Chauffer, Tutor, Monsoon, Flooding, Secret Room, Camping Trip, Birthday Party, Indians.