Gisaengchung
Directed by:
Joon-ho BongCinematography:
Kyung-pyo HongComposer:
Jae-il JungCast:
Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Hye-jin Jang, Woo-shik Choi, So-dam Park, Seung-min Hyeon, Hyun-jun Jung, Myeong-hoon Park, Keun-rok Park (more)VOD (2)
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A zeitgeist-defining sensation that distilled a global reckoning over class inequality into a tour de force of pop-cinema subversion, Bong Joon Ho’s genre-scrambling black-comic thriller confirms his status as one of the world’s foremost filmmakers. Two families in Seoul—one barely scraping by in a dank semibasement in a low-lying neighborhood, the other living in luxury in a modern architectural marvel overlooking the city—find themselves on a collision course that will lay bare the dark contradictions of capitalism with shocking ferocity. A bravura showcase for its director’s meticulously constructed set pieces, bolstered by a brilliant ensemble cast and stunning production design, Parasite cemented the New Korean Cinema as a full-fledged international force when it swept almost every major prize from Cannes to the Academy Awards, where it made history as the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for best picture. (Criterion)
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One of the best Korean cinematic achievements in recent years. Mix the Coen Brothers' dark comedies with a touch of the madness typical of Paul W. S. Anderson, and you get this final cocktail of boundless entertainment. The originality of the concept thrilled me, and I consider the idea to be a brilliant move. That it was successfully executed in terms of screenwriting is just the cherry on top. Especially contributing to the positive aspects of this masterpiece is the amazing cast. No one in the ensemble feels like a fifth wheel, and everyone contributes to the film's cohesion. The dialogue is flawless, making you laugh heartily one moment and then ponder deeply, watching with a somber mood in the next. The ending... what can I say... no one would expect such a conclusion, and Tarantino must have loved it. The epilogue evoked truly strong emotions in me; the story of a family and their plan was so perfectly and precisely wrapped up that I’m convinced I need to update my Top 3 films for last year. Full marks. I give it 90%.
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A brilliant South Korean effort that takes shots at class issues with unconventional grace while maintaining an incredibly funny detachment. In this respect, all the jokes and references to North Korea are extremely successful and cool. Plus, in terms of filmmaking, it's really very professional and in some ways even a hair more progressive than mainstream Hollywood. The self-conscious alternating of genres then becomes the icing on the cake, reminiscent of the earlier bright period of South Korean production. Its international renown is well deserved, as this is truly one of the best films of 2019.
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It's been a long time since I've come across a script as original as this film. Parasite is an inscrutable darkly humorous social satire, tinged with the thriller genre, which at the same time skillfully hits the tastes of contemporary audiences. To the resonant sounds of evocative music from the Far East, I have an unwavering feeling that once again entertainment has merged with art, which is not something you see every day in the world of cinema. I won't beat around the bush, I simply had a tremendous amount of fun, and I definitely won't stop at just one viewing. (95%)
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