Parasite, the epic South Korean origin film, created a shocking wave in the world in 2019 under Bong Joon-Ho’s direction. The wave equates to many National and International Awards for this piece which made history in the film industry world. Winning a total of four Oscar awards, named as- Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, International feature film, and Best Picture, the movie crew dominated the 2020 Oscars. It is the only non-English, subtitled movie on the frontier of the Oscars in 92 years. It was not just the Oscars to appreciate the film with awards; many other honorable mentions are in the pockets of 'Parasite.' The film tried to portray a social class system and socio-economic inequalities involving two families with different backgrounds. Besides being thought-provoking, the movie also grips over elements like dark humor, thrill, crime, and drama. It gets applause for the plot, direction, acting, set, design, and crew.
1. What If It Was Just A Play, A Stage Production?
The movie was about to become a play in theaters with lights, music, and live acting. Working on the plot since 2013, Bong Joon-ho always thought of creating a theatrical out of this concept by dividing the stage into two families and their two individual versions through the art of set. Though the setting could have left us in wows, real-life situations like the house in floodwater, the red blood of discrimination, and the bungalow and basement effect in the film have also won international wows.
2. Why Is The Movie Named Parasite?
Initially, the original name was Decalcomanie, which later got replaced with the name Parasite for the movie title. The Parasite film is simply a living thing that lives at the expense of another living thing. The proper definition also includes that a parasite can harm or get food and shelter from another residing thing/ human. Director says the movie name could have seemed hostile, denoting the middle-class family from the movie. But the wealthy family shown is also, in a way parasite, dependent on the laborers to work for them. Indeed the thought left all hesitance behind to name this movie Parasite.
3. Actors Choi Woo-Shik & Song Kang-Ho Accepted The Movie Without Reading The Script
If trust and work are strong enough, a simple piece can become a masterpiece; hence, proven by these actors' moves. Both Choi Woo-Shik & Song Kang-ho are veterans at work with Bong. They readily accepted the movie script without reading it or knowing the basics. Veteran Choi Woo-Shik has worked in Bong’s Okja movie, receiving many Cannes awards, and Song Kang-ho has worked in more than 2 of Bong’s films- Memories of the Murder (2003), The host (2006), and Snowpiercer (2013)
4. Both The Houses Are A Built-Up
The Kim family’s basement house, the neighborhood, and the Park’s villa are an incredible art of set. Wonder how the whole alley was built in a water tank to create the climax scene with floodwater. The Park house was also designed and built by a fictional architect Namgoong Sonja.
5. Was It The Dirty Flood Water While Shooting As Well?
Kim's family runs out of the Park's house after the heavy rainfall ruins the plan for both families. The flooded area, neighborhood, and basement were an artificial make-up of the whole alley in a giant water tank. The visuals seem dirty and clumsy, though the actors mentioned in their speech that the effects to make it look dirty were different efforts made through skincare products, clay masks, etc. Watch the scene quite carefully if you are into technicalities.
6. Real-Life Experiences With Creativity Can Make Such History
Bong Joon-ho certainly made it a success out of no such expectations with his real-life experience, lessons, and observations! So, a few scenes where his experience managed relating everything are- 1. He was a tutor to a student of a very wealthy family. 2. Peach allergy was his observation through his friend circle and executed in the film. 3. He knew that Landscape stone was anciently a symbol to gift someone. However, nowadays, this tradition doesn't exist.
7. Translation Of Dish Ram-Don
The dish ram-don in the movie is not the actual name. Jjapaguri or Chapaguri is the name, which seemed hard to translate, hence making a hybrid term of ramen and udon- Ram-don. Obsession among fans did increase after the movie's release, and the results say- Jjapaguri is a combination of two different instant noodle brands, Chapagetti (ramen version) and Neoguri (udon version). Make sense now! To relate to the foreign audience, ‘Seoul National University was subtitled as Oxford University in the movie.
8. The Movie Does Not Qualify For Golden Globe Awards
Even though the Parasite movie qualified for the nominations and won the Oscar Awards, it does not fit the criteria for the Golden Globe Awards. The reason lies in the specific criteria of the Golden Globe, which say that the nominated film must have 50% English language used in the movie. The parasite film is 99% in the Korean language, hence doesn't get the title of Golden Globes. Oscar has no such criteria, therefore is the massive success we see.
9. The Siblings Sing A Song That Does Exist As A Korean Song
Kim Ki-Jun and Kim Ki-Woo, the characters, sing a song outside the Park villa. The subtitles might sound odd, but it is a song taught to school children. The only concept to teach is to memorize things with a rhythm. They used this concept in the film so that Ki-Jung could not bluff or contradict the lies told by her brother.
10. Bong Started The Script's Work In 2013, Along With His Other Massive Hit Films
Bong was working on his movie Snowpiercer and Okja. Both of these movies created a massive hit. Simultaneously working on the research and the concept, Bong released this film in 2019. This research of five years has caught the crew of Parasite to become a part of the highest rated and oscar winning movie.
