A movie that will definitely change your perception of society

“Parasite”,a South Korean film released in 2019 and directed by Bong Joon-ho, is ,without a doubt, one that you should keep in mind,if you're not looking to see something mediocre.

This is definitely not a movie for pure entertainment, the themes that are portrayed and the message it conveys lead us to a deep reflection on human rights, especially with regard to social inequalities,and what place do we occupy on this so famously called "social ladder".

Bong's film is one which reveals itself in layers and it's almost impossible to categorize, it's at once a black comedy, thriller, horror, family drama, which makes it even more peculiar and captivating.

“Parasite”, makes a critical portrait of the reality of South Korea, focusing on the economic inequalities that divide the country. It also shows us the despair of those who live on the threshold of poverty, and the schemes they devise to survive at the expense of millionaires. Nonetheless, we can´t allege that in this movie there are the bad and the good guys, neither do they represent the good and the evil.

Deep down, all the characters reveal to be capable of sadistic and vile thoughts and attitudes, seeking justifications, especially discursive ones, to legitimize or mitigate them. They are simply following their human instinct and trying to survive, that is the reason why it is described by its creator as “a comedy without clowns, a tragedy without villains”.

In “Parasite”, capitalism is an illusion piled onto another illusion, with everyone trampling each other to reach some undefined goal, inducing us to think:

“Is success truly organic, or is it mostly due to the circumstances of one’s birth?”

So frankly, if there even is a villain or “parasite” here, it’s capitalism, and the structures that force people into indignity, desperation and naked self-interest.

In conclusion, I consider this film to be an allegory of unrestrained class inequality and popular frustration at the lack of social mobility in one of the richest countries in Asia.