Upstairs, Downstairs, Nowhere
Upstairs, Downstairs, Nowhere
The Hosts With The Most
February 13, 2020
Movin’ On In
Parasite (2019)
There are times when the grass truly is greener on the other side of the fence. And the food is better, the beds are softer, and the rooms are bigger, too.
Oh, but the basement might be a secret hell. Watch out for that.
Parasite is the story of (at least) two Korean families. One has nothing, one has everything, and they become intertwined when the family that has nothing tries to absorb the life of the family that has everything. They don’t do this because they’re trying to hurt anyone, but they certainly don’t care if they do, but they do it because they desperately need that grass and everything else on the other side of that financial and cultural fence.
This film is funny, cold and in Korean. But it translates easily because while even though the engine of this film seems to be a uniquely Asian take on family honor and class warfare, all places and languages know what it’s like to have those who have and those who need and a system that refuses to bridge the two.
There are not many films out there like Parasite, movies that are scathingly funny while also unnerving, touching, and sad and that force you to ask yourself some questions you have most certainly asked yourself before but not quite in this way. What would you do to give your family a better life? Or what would you do to protect the good things your family already has?
You would do anything. But you probably wouldn’t do what these loving families in Parasite do.
Would you?
Bong Joon Ho wrote the screenplay and directed this amazing movie about lies, capitalism, tradition, food, smells, very deep basements and, in the beginning and in the end, about family. It’s about a family with much to be sorry about. But nothing to be ashamed of. --TK
Thursday, February 13, 2020