Parasite
February 12, 2020
Bong-Joon Ho is known for his wild allegorical tales, most notably Snowpeircer and Okja. Both are somewhat heavy-handed yet entertaining films which deal with the social issues of class struggle and animal cruelty, respectively.
Parasite finds Bong perfecting his use of allegory within an incredibly captivating plot, which follows a poor family that attempts to become employed by a rich but clueless family.
Bong’s trademark black comedy shines in the film, which rarely has purely comedic or dramatic moments, instead finding a constant unsettling tone.
Written by Bong, the film takes on the same theme — class — as Snowpeircer, yet has more layers in its analysis, using much more visual symbolism than his previous films, and connecting it with other themes of family and fate.
Carrying the intense narrative structure is the film’s versatile cast. Song-Kang-ho and Park So-dam deliver some of the strongest performances of the year. Unfortunately, no Parasite actors have been nominated for an Oscar or any of the other many award shows this season, instead being looked over for more notable American actors.
Parasite is one of the most daring films to be nominated for an Oscar in recent memory and perfects the rare blend of a captivating plot and an intense social message. It genuinely has the ability to change the viewer’s worldview on a global struggle, and is a great candidate for the Best Picture Award.
— Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz Brooks, Editor-in-Chief