Has there really been no discussion of Bong Joon Ho's incredible masterpiece, Parasite, here?

[redqueen]

I did a search for the term in thread titles going back to November but didn't turn up any results in GD.

Anyway, I really hope this film wins every Oscar it's nominated for. I'm not exaggerating by calling it a masterpiece.

If you haven't seen it, do not watch this. MASSIVE spoilers. And it is a truly beautiful film which is a must-see for any film buff.

If you have seen it, this breakdown of the many layers of meaning is also very much worth watching.

[mahina]

1. I saw it and found it grotesque.

Different tastes.

[msongs]

2. maybe you could give a one paragraph synopsis of what its about nt

[redqueen]

3. Here's one description shown for the film online

"Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan."

Or as described in the video at the link - it's a careful examination of growing class tensions in modern society.

I think a lot of people somehow came away with the idea that Ho's movie is referring to the poor as parasites. I assure you that is most definitely not the case.

[msongs]

4. mahalo. sounds like fun lol nt

[leftstreet]

5. "It's easy to be nice when you're rich"

It's one of those rare films that turns a viewer inside out

DURec

[redqueen]

10. Indeed.

He doesn't hammer the message, but it is powerfully depicted nonetheless. IMO.

[IcyPeas]

6. BAFTA's

Watching the bafta awards. It's won a couple of awards so far. Nominated in a couple more.

[redqueen]

11. Disappointed it didn't win all it was nominated for

but 1917 was a British film so.

[Generic Other]

7. I just rented it from Amazon

Will let you know what I think.

[redqueen]

12. Hope you enjoy!

It's so beautifully shot.

[Generic Other]

25. WOW

I especially loved the scenes that echoed Fritz Lang's Metropolis. Don't want to say more for fear of spoiling. I will say it is an amazing film. Earns my thumbs up for best foreign film oscar.

[redqueen]

28. So many things to love about this movie.

I literally cannot say enough good things about it.

It's worth checking out some YouTube videos about the symbolism in it, as a lot of it would miss western audiences.

[Cicada]

8. I loved his 2006 film The Host

I look forward to seeing Parasite. His early film The Host was about a monster living in the big river in Seoul. I liked the humorous touches in it.

[redqueen]

13. Same!

I also liked Okja a lot, too.

[sakabatou]

9. So it's not about an alien attached to a random guy's hand?

[redqueen]

14. LOL no, anyone expecting that sort of movie would be

sorely disappointed.

[sakabatou]

16. Actually, there is a live-action movie based on the series

The animated series, however, is better.

[redqueen]

19. Ooooo thanks I'll check that out!

[sakabatou]

20. My girlfriend recommended it to me

I watched it, loved it!

[nuxvomica]

15. It's a great movie

Cinematography, character development, dialogue, acting, sets, direction are all superb. And there's a fun way to watch it: think of the central family as what the Trumps would be like if they had no money.

[NewJeffCT]

17. It was a very good and thought provoking movie (spoilers below)

1) it wasn't just about hatred of the wealthy family - it was also about how the two other working class/poor families fought essentially to the death to stay within the orbit of that rich Park family (the housekeeper & her husband - wow, when he turned up, that was a shocker vs the Kim family)

2) The one person in the Kim family that died was the daughter that the brother said would best fit in with the wealthy Parks. And, while her brother conned his way into his job, she was more proactive in getting rid of the others so her parents could get jobs)

3) A good friend of my daughter recently moved to the US from Korea and confirmed that it's true about that lighter moment with the young boy and his "Indian" teepee ("we ordered it from the US, so it must be good quality&quot

[UTUSN]

18. And I thought "Joker" was the most depressed thing possible!1

Disclaimer, Joaq and Renee are my absolute faves, just as Olivia COLMAN and The Favourite were last year. I guess in these terms they are symbols of commercial exploitation.

[MoonRiver]

22. Saw Joker last night.

It was both horrifying and fascinating, especially to psychologists like me.

[redqueen]

24. I saw it, but didn't find it memorable.

Maybe I should give it a second viewing. I came away from it feeling fairly unimpressed.

[USALiberal]

21. Bettor suited for the lounge IMO. nt

[redqueen]

23. Then you aren't aware of what this film is about.

It has deconstructed class consciousness in a way few films have.

[Generic Other]

27. Postmodernism

Reminded me of Fritz Lang, David Mamet, David Lynch. I was impressed. Messed with my head. Will be thinking about that film for some time to come.

When Hollywood does a remake, they should cast the Trumps. Not sure which family they should portray though.

[Nature Man]

33. forum policing is a thankless job

[SKKY]

26. I haven't seen it yet, but is it better than Snow Piercer???

[Generic Other]

30. Was that the one with the train that never stopped?

It is way better than that.

[redqueen]

31. Oh yes - very much so!

[Croney]

29. I saw it weeks ago, and considered doing a review here,

in the Movies forum. I just couldn't get a grip on how I felt about it. It's certainly unusual. The actors are all good. I guess I decided I couldn't do justice to all the underlying symbolism.

[redqueen]

32. Yes, the symbolism -

I missed a lot of it at first, but after watching a video explaining it ... that shot of his shoes, he's just standing on the stairs, and the water flowing past him, urging him downward...

Just amazing. Amazing.

[redqueen]

34. Oops and also

I did look for a movies group but didn't find it 😬

[Croney]

35. It's under Entertainment. 👍

[llmart]

37. Better to have posted this in the Entertainment group.

n/t

[redqueen]

38. Didn't find it. Also the reason I'm shocked not to see a discussion

about it is because the subject is very political.

[Squinch]

36. I STILL haven't seen it. Made plans to twice and both times they fell apart.

[redqueen]

39. Ah that's too bad.

It is beautifully shot, with many visual metaphors which accentuate the message behind the film, so imo it's definitely one worth seeing on the big screen.

[Squinch]

40. I will make a point to this weekend on your recommendation!