I’m transferring a post I made on another site. As usual, I dropped in there for one of my (in)famous drive-by postings so I must duplicate my post here.
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@sarang21 asked:
Has anyone of you watched the movie “Parasite”? What´s your opinion on it?
I thought the movie did what the director wanted it to do. He said that he wanted to make a story about “décalcomanie.”
lol. That’s a fancy root word of “decal.” You know what a decal is, right? It’s the sticker that you transfer onto your car window or your tshirt or notebook.
In décalcomanie, you fold the paper in half and paint one side of the paper. Then, you fold the paper again so now, the paint transfers onto the clean half.
When you open the folded paper, you’ll have produced a picture with two halves mirroring the other.
One half copies the other half.
credit: moomoo-cafe.com
Now, in this movie, the colorful, painted half represents the poor family. They’re “transferred” their colorful and problematic lives onto the rich family’s pristine, unsoiled white lives. Once the poor family began working for the rich people, the messiness of their poverty-stricken lives was affixed to the rich family, without the rich family’s knowledge.
Metaphorically speaking, the poor family is like a parasite, sucking on to the rich family.
But…
Stop!
It can also be argued that the colorful, painted half represents the rich. The rich family transferred their colorful and extravagant lifestyle onto the poor family, making the poor family covet the same luxury, the same luck, the same affluence.
Metaphorically speaking, the rich family is like a parasite, too. They’ve attached their materialistic values, like leeches, onto the poor family, and they’re draining the poor family’s sense of worth and sense of identity.
So now, when you open the folded paper of your décalcomanie project – or when you study the picture created by this movie – you’ll have to wonder which one is the original art and which is the copy.
Or which one is the real parasite, and which one is the host.
It’s hard to tell because they’re mirror-images of each other.
See that? To me, that’s the message of the movie, “Parasite.”
I thought it was clever but… (lol. I won’t spoil it for you all)
Any non-English speaking movie nominated for an Oscar must be good. So I went to the cinema this evening with expectations- doubled by the fact that I am a Kdrama fan and already KNOW the quality of writing acting and direction considered commonplace in the Kworld. I wasn’t disappointed. The movie has heart. There are twists and turns and at one point everyone in the cinema was gasping, another minute they were laughing but what makes the movie stand out for me is the heart. Niamh, your “han” plays a role in the movie. It’s much more tongue in cheek and lighthearted than I expected. But it has left me thinking. Don’t read reviews before you go see it. It might spoil the fun.
This film just won Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
I want to watch it now. 🙂 My son’s actually seen it and he said it was pretty good.
😈 Are you sure your son wasn’t trolling you? You should rephrase your question. Ask him if he thinks YOU will like the movie. 😂🙂
Not saying anything more…
Ya. What’s with the devil emoji? hehehe
I’ll ask him tonight. 🙂
I’ll try to watch it and see why you’ve got that emoji. LOL.
😈 Just because I could make sense of something doesn’t mean I liked LIKED it. (And vice versa.)
For instance, I understand thunder and lightning, but I hate thunder and lightning esp when I’m all alone.
I understand golf but you’ll never catch me playing golf.
Ask your son first if he thinks you’ll like it. Some of my friends left the theater scratching their heads. 😈😂
Ooooohh! 😂
😈 Just because I could make sense of something doesn’t mean I liked LIKED it. (And vice versa.)
I get it! I get it! hehehe I will definitely ask my son about it. 😀
👍
You got it.
I liked it a lot, but personally for me, amongst BJH’s works, the most memorable are still The Host and Okja. Not just because of the supernatural genre, but because despite of the genre and the action pack scenes, it has brought a lot of emotions for me.
I admit, I watched this but I did not finish it in one sitting. Although, it was clever and the poor family is cunning, no one was really ever evil in this movie, rather they were all driven by their sense of need. Honestly, I’m just shocked by the father killing the patriarch of the rich family. He was a good father and a good husband, in a sense despite his arrogance, it seemed necesssary for him to die to give the shock value but I feel so sorry for his family.
Anyway, it’s still a very good movie and my korean moots are celebrating this achievement in film.
Wow. It won Best Picture! It was my choice but I didn’t expect the academy to choose it when so often they’ve ignored genius dressed in “foreign” (read non American) attire. Times are a-changin’!
If you like Parasite you should see a movie called “Wild Tales” from Argentina made a few years ago. While v different there are similar outrageous turns which really entertain. It was an overlooked movie imho.
Problem I have in Ireland in Europe is that there is no one releasing Asian movies here and Viki restricts access to regions which appear to exclude a Europe more often than not. I’m blue in face trying to find a way to see “the Negotiation” with Hyun Bin and Son Hye Jin. No way to watch it in Ireland. It’s usually only the critically acclaimed movies from Asia that get a one off art house show and if you miss it, well it’s gone. It’s a really good thing that Parasite is in general release. Hopefully doors will open.
My friends from my old book club have been texting me since last night saying they want an “emergency” get-together to analyze this award-winning show. Reactions are mixed. 🙂 I volunteered to host them on Sunday as long as they left their knives at home. My book club friends can get quite passionate and contentious when discussing things. Unlike the bitches here on this blog. 😉
I remember why I didn’t watch JoJo Rabbit on the plane. I watched The Farewell instead. I think many thought it deserved at least a nomination but it never made the cut. It was quite a thought provoking show. I quite liked it. The ending (epilogue) was surprising and also ironic which I really liked.
PS I have yet to watch the much acclaimed movie Parasite. You know me. I dislike it when a movie/drama’s reputation precedes a viewing (from me). The louder the chorus of accolades about it being a blockbuster or epic tends to make me cast an even harsher critical eye over it. I don’t like being swayed by the majority tide. 😂. I would much rather come into it with no bias. I will wait till the mania dies down before watching.
Jojo Rabbit sounded funny. Tell me what you think of it after you’ve seen it.
I never heard that Parasite was lauded to such an extent. It’s a good movie, entertaining to watch while making loud statements about social inequality and family ties. It’s not THAT good tho. It was a v weak year Oscar wise – when the Joker can get so many nominations you know something is wrong. I was unimpressed by 1917 – good but Ive seen it all before, The Irishman – what were they thinking casting old men in a film about young men- the CGI was a joke- all overly self indulgent (Marty in 2018- “I think I’ll make one more movie with my old pals”) and a story that I’ve seen before which in 2020 is outdated; Little women was ok but nothing ground breaking and depended on the viewers knowing and loving the little women story (which I don’t btw)(there were indulgences at the end in particular); once upon a time in Hollywood was spectacular for the first half and then slowly wilted; (Leonardo was better than Brad – who as usual was playing Brad – he has never played any other character – different lines and costumes but it’s just Brad- why he won an Oscar is beyond me)(Hollywood redemption addiction methinks); I haven’t seen JoJo Rabbit; Marriage story was badly scripted in parts and the deus ex machina end was ridiculous – Laura Dern (who I love to hate) was brilliant – her role was v well scripted- and deserves the award -“where was God?!” Etc etc. I’ve seen all the other nomd movies but they didn’t stand out. There was nothing to compete with Parasite imho. It was a well crafted story, well directed and acted and it had several layers of meaning giving it the fun factor while pleasing critics. Won for me but it may not have won had the homegrown crop of movies been less flawed.
“I never heard that Parasite was lauded to such an extent.” @Smartie
I think it was a HUGE deal in Korea (and neighboring Asian countries) because it accumulated so many awards (every article I read was about the various awards – it began in Korea and then spilled over to the international arena)…and it just kept coming…until of course the Oscar. Being touted as the first Korean film to ever win on a “western” stage is massive. It’s a matter of national pride. Akin to a KPop song winning at the Grammies. So I guess it’s a perspective thing. If you’re Asian it’s a big deal.
I haven’t watched any of the other films nominated so I can’t comment.
It’s a big deal alright – even here in little Ireland. I just hadn’t heard because I don’t have TV channels and so don’t watch reviews. Or get movie news. (Or any news for that matter – I’m surprised even by the weather!). What I am trying to say is that I went to see the movie without having heard much about it other than that it was a contender for an Oscar. I thought it should win but never expected it to because of the usual prejudice v foreign language movies. My heart warmed when I heard. Usually what happens is a brilliant “foreign language” movie is made and ignored in the US and then it’s badly remade with a box office draw starring – example:-“the secret in their eyes” from Argentina a few years ago, “the birdcage” etc etc (although the birdcage was pretty good). It’s wonderful that that ceiling has been broken.
IMHO US filmmaking has deteriorated over the past twenty years. It’s time to accept that others can and are doing it better. Korea is definitely doing it better – otherwise I wouldn’t be here on a blog about Kdramas. They are the best in the world. It’s wonderful that that is now acknowledged. Well done Korea! Fighting!
“IMHO US filmmaking has deteriorated over the past twenty years.”
I agree wholeheartedly. Which is why I delved into KDrama and foreign language movies and departed from Hollywood for good. Only paying a visit now and then. And count me surprised too when I saw the number of nominations Joker got this time. I don’t plan on watching it.
Ditto.
Don’t like Hollywood movies.
For instance, what’s up with all these superheroes? There’s a hero for everything so much so that acquiring super powers feels eerily like getting a participation trophy in youth soccer. Everybody has to have a super power otherwise people will be accused of being exclusive or discriminatory.
This may sound weird but culturally I identify closer with the world of Parasite than with any Hollywood movie of recent years. I understood and could identify with the motivations and actions of each character. It was a classy movie too. I dislike the US cinemas obsession with drugs, violence, gratuitous nudity and the frequent story where a “maverick” or “slacker” wins out while the hard working ambitious person is always troped as an ass. (See 2012 with John Cusack playing the slacker dead beat pizza eating Dad winning out over the lovely hard working caring surgeon his ex-wife had moved on to). I don’t get it. I just don’t get it anymore. And EVERYONE takes drugs! In every Hollywood romantic comedy the couple have to get high together. What’s with that!!! Seriously?! So imho it’s high (!) time for a change!
Niamh – you know there is a superhero called “Condiment man”. Someone really didn’t know when to draw the line!!
No. Never heard of the “Condiment Man,” Sheila. 🙂 What’s his choice of weapon? Ketchup or mustard?
Wait—- if he’s one of the new age/woke type of heroes, then he should have balsamic vinaigrette or sriracha.
For me it was the sex scenes. Like any other normal being, I like sex. But I’m not voyeur, and I dislike watching actors engaging in sexually explicit action directed specifically to titillate the audience. Viewers don’t get that there’ll always the element of exploitation and dehumanization in the production of these scenes. When I’m watching these graphic scenes, part of my brain is wondering a) whether the actors felt exploited and grossed out as they rubbed skin against skin and b) whether the director, often male, was foisting on me his own wish-fulfillment fantasy and desensitizing me to real intimacy.
Ugh.
I can’t boycott Hollywood but I eventually started looking for a better alternative.
@Smartie, I apologise. I thought Condiment Man was fibbery and had to google it. Bad to the point of absurdity. I can imagine a citizen action group complaining about his methods.
I just watched it on my plane ride home. It was…interesting. I can see why it won an Oscar. It’s novel and it definitely leaves you wondering at the end. Like @packmule3 ‘s analysis. In the end who was the host and who the parasite? The poor folk had latched on to the rich but in the end, the poor folk were the ones with the changed mindset. Their minds (or at least the son’s anyway) had been transformed irrevocably to the pursuit of material status and wealth. The interplay between the down and outs (basement dwellers) and the upper class (living above) was very apparent with the movements via stairwells right through the movie. It was definitely very clever and innovative. It left me in a thoughtful mood BUT more so in a philosophical way? What it didn’t do for me was tug at my heartstrings. So it definitely worked for me on a cerebral level but it missed the mark when it came to heart.