Parasite
Brilliant movie.
First, the premise is so interesting. Watching how the family cleverly replaces the tutor, the driver, and then the housekeeepr was very entertaining.
Then, the performances are great, especially Ki-jung as Jessica the witty daughter, Mrs. Choi the naive housewife, and Ki-taek as Mr. Kim the new driver. Also Mr. Park does great as the subtly obnoxious wealthy husband.
The commentary is great. The smell sticking to the Kim family both separates them from the rich family (which only the rich family points out) and highlights that their true identity will also stick with them. We see themes of artificialness (Mr. Kim asking if Mrs. Choi and Mr. Park have true love for one another, the people at Da-Song’s birthday party, and the entire Kim family working at the house). The film’s title is fitting for the invasion of bad that is the Kim family against the “Native Americans” in the house. The keeping of the old housekeeper and her husband in the bunker by the Kim family reflects the furthering of inequalities while the rich get richer. This is also symbolized by the lack of care at Jessica’s death by everyone at the party besides the Kim family- they only want them for entertainment + labor and dispose of them when they are useless. The rich are their own parasites.
In the end, we see an unfortunate new yet familiar reality for the Kim family, now down 1 (really 2) family members as they go back to struggling to make ends meet.