Parasite

Just as great as when I first watched it in 2019! This is such a richly written masterpiece that is both subtle and overt. It is timely and timeless. The nuance in the screenplay is so impressive, and the characterization is spectacular.  At the risk of sounding elitist, I really do think Bong Joon-ho got everything right. There is the line that must not be crossed, the wealthy that can afford to be nice, the smell of the poor, the fetishization of the impoverished and their struggles, the resentment towards the rich. These were all existent in 2019, and Parasite increased everyone’s awareness and consciousness about all these.  The rewatchability of this one is sensational. I used to read opinion pieces six years ago on who the parasites were. I used to think they were all parasites leeching off each other, but I’ve come to realize that our society is parasitic in nature. You cannot get a job without someone losing out on that opportunity. You cannot live a comfortable life without making someone sacrifice theirs. I really still appreciate Bong Joon-ho’s decision to avoid painting any of the characters in a bad light, because they aren’t actually bad. They’re just doing their best to survive. And while the Parks are immensely rich (hello, their refrigerator is full of Voss and the mom has several Birkins), I do think the way the system is set up is the true enemy. It reminds me of a situation in the Philippines. Grab drivers and establishments are remarking on the losses they take from shouldering student/PWD discounts. This puts the burden on the students and the PWDs. Some establishments even say the customers should not use the said discounts, while sometimes you can just pick up the aura that they eminate: wishing the customers would just rather pay the full price and not make a fuss. The customers are all rightfully entitled to the said discounts. But it’s the government who must shoulder these discounts. It’s the government that must fix what’s wrong with society.