Parasite (2019 film)

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon Ho.

The movie explores the relationship between two families from different social classes. One family is very wealthy, while the other lives in a small semi-basement flat in Seoul. The film uses humor and suspense to show how these two worlds interact. It has become one of the most famous and successful international films in history.

The plot follows the Kim family as they attempt to infiltrate the lives of the wealthy Park family. It begins when the son, Ki-woo, poses as a university student to tutor the Parks' daughter, Da-hye. Through clever schemes, the rest of the Kim family secures jobs in the Park household. They work as an art therapist, a chauffeur, and a housekeeper. To keep their jobs, they must hide their true identities and pretend they are strangers to one another. This deception creates a tense atmosphere as the families' lives become deeply intertwined.

As the story progresses, a hidden layer of the house is revealed. The Kims discover a secret underground bunker built by the home's original architect. Inside this bunker, they find Moon-gwang's husband, Geun-sae, who has been living in hiding. This discovery leads to a series of intense conflicts between the two families. A sudden, severe rainstorm causes a flood in the Kims' semi-basement home, separating the families physically and emotionally. The tension eventually reaches a breaking point during an outdoor garden party, resulting in a violent confrontation.

Director Bong Joon Ho developed the idea for the film over several years. He first began working on the concept as a play in 2013. He drew inspiration from his own experience working as a tutor for a wealthy family in Seoul. Bong also looked to older films and real-world events for creative ideas. He was influenced by the 1960 Korean film The Housemaid and the 1963 film High and Low. He even referenced a real incident from 1930s France involving two live-in maids.

The title of the film carries a complex, double meaning. Bong chose the name Parasite to describe both families in the story. On one hand, the poor Kim family infiltrates the home to survive. On the other hand, the wealthy Park family relies entirely on the labor of others. They cannot drive themselves, clean their own homes, or even wash their own dishes. In this way, the wealthy family also acts as a parasite by leeching off the work of the poor. This theme is central to the film's social commentary.

Producing the film required massive technical efforts and a large budget. The production cost approximately $11.4 million to complete. Filming took place between May and September 2018 in locations like Seoul and Jeonju.

A major part of the production involved creating the Park family's luxurious home. This house was not a real building but a specially constructed set. Builders created the ground floor and garden on an outdoor lot. The second floor and the basement were added later using green screen technology and post-production effects.

Parasite achieved unprecedented success at major global awards ceremonies. It was the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. At the 92nd Academy Awards, it made history by winning Best Picture. This was the first time a non-English-language film ever received this honor. The film also won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. It earned $258 million worldwide, making it a massive commercial success. Today, it is frequently ranked among the best films of the 21st century.