Film review: Parasite

I’m not going to spoil the story because the surprise factor is absolutely vital to enjoy this movie. I didn’t know anything about it before the screening, and I loved how the plot unfold in unexpected ways.

While watching, I went through many different emotional moments. At times it’s funny, heart-breaking, surprising, full of suspense. You’ll be at the edge of your seat until the very end. 

The pace is perfect, there’s never a dull moment in this beautifully directed movie that totally deserved the Oscar. I watched the Black and White version, which I thought highlighted the stunning photography. My friend who saw it earlier in the colour version said that the colours add another dimension to the story. 

Somehow, despite being a South Korean production with a peculiar Asian backdrop, the characters with all their conflicts are universally appealing. This is why this movie has been quite rightly recognised globally. You will understand the hype that surrounds this movie as soon as you watch it. 

Parasite cannot be labelled with one specific genre. It starts as a heist film only to become a comedy, then into a thriller and crime.  And it does incredibly well in all these genres. 

This film helps audiences to reflect about poverty and wealth, focusing on the impoverished social ecosystem of unequal societies, and the social roles and habits these societies require of their people. It uses humour and likeable characters like the poor Kim family members and their life-changing involvement with the wealthy Park family. The twist is superb but I won’t spoil it.