Opening scene panning down to introduce each character of the Kim family
Kim siblings struggling to finesse some free wifi by cramping onto the highest spot in their basement
Ki-Taek insisted that they leave their window open so they can get free extermination (of stink bugs), even if that meant they had to choke on the smoke
Cinematic complementary orange and blue hues
Foreshadowing of all the metaphors in the film
Graceful shot of Ki-Jeong blowing off some peach dust which she would use to frame the housekeeper as a danger to the Park family, showing the Kim family character as taking pride in being merciless and competitive.
Foreshadowing to all the imagery of water throughout the film, the lower-class families always inconvenienced by floods and rain while the wealthy family is comfortable in their car or home. Also foreshadowing to the Kim family being filmed later.
A serene scene of Ki-Woo basking in his temporary privilege; enjoying the sunlight in a spacious yard.
Dark colors signifying a turning point in the film. Unsettling atmosphere.
Nice composition
Kim family being threatened by the housekeeper
Scene of housekeeper and her husband appreciating the architecture of the Park's house and living a temporary pretend wealthy life
Ki-Taek smelling his shirt while hiding under the Parks' living room table after hearing the husband talk about how he and his family smells like people of the lower-class
Kim family going back down to their reality of the lower-class, literally and metaphorically.
Camera panning down
Ki-Jeong making the most of her situation. Nice scene
The rock that Min gave the Kim family floats to Ki-Woo, as if its worth cannot be drowned by dirty floodwater.
Ki-Woo gets knocked on the head by the same rock that was gifted to him. Metaphorical
Scene of (a forced and almost unnatural) purity and peacefulness of the rich enjoying an extra birthday party
Jarring image
Complementary colors highlight the contrast between the green grass and the bloody hands
Ki-Taek reflecting on his life
Complementary orange and blue hues
The Kim family continues to dream of a day where they can escape to a comfortable wealthy life, but it seems unrealistic.
Parasite is a blend of horror, drama, suspense, and satire surrounding the ideas of social class disparities and the system that traps the lower class in their position. It showcases how a poor family, who have gone their whole lives adapting to the many struggles of a lower class, became parasites to a wealthy family in an attempt to pull themselves out of the cycle. The scenes of sewage floods, smoke, and dust that dirty the Kims’ semi-basement metaphorically contrasts with scenes of sunlight and the physical height of the Park’s home that signifies their comfortable upper-class position.
Through a montage of graceful and quick panning shots with intensity building after each, the Kims infiltrated into the Parks' lives like masterminds. The Kims had just made themselves comfortable in the house, discussing their dreams of a new life, when the Park’s previous housekeeper came back and unveiled a chaotic wrestle and battle for dominance between the two lower-class families. Intensity accelerating with each scene until the Parks arrived and everyone dispersed like Moon-Gwang would compare to cockroaches.
The final conflict came just as quickly and dramatically as it died. Like a blood drop in water, the sterility and peacefulness of the Park’s son’s birthday party were suddenly painted with blood as the Geun Sae went on a Kim family killing rampage. Ki-Taek’s rage, having been fueled bit by bit through the Parks ignorance and disgust for the lower class, exploded as he stabs the husband in the chest and ran away. The movie ends with the Kim family, now missing their daughter, still dreaming of the day they get to live a different life.
Words
- Dramatic
- Suspenseful
- Artful
- Inequality
- Satirical
Parasite illustrates a story about an artful family battling the inequalities of social class through a series of dramatic conflicts in a satirical and suspenseful tone.
location, texture, color scheme, light illumination
Names will usually be displayed in pairs to highlight the difference between characters. Overtime the division (between cast AND producers, just so it's consistent) will become less clear / rougher.
Video clips credit: https://www.videezy.com/