For 2 years in a row, the Palme d’Or has gone to two fascinating, socially-relevant, Asian family drama. “Parasite”, like last year’s “Shoplifters”, was an utterly riveting and emotionally-poignant film. It was smartly written and sharply directed by writer/director Bong Joon-ho and can be best described as a black comedic, scathing social satire/family drama.
The story started out simple enough but it constantly surprises and zigs instead of the expected zags, and the emotional weight crept stealthily just beyond until it hits like a ton of rocks! The third act was not where one would expect the first act to end up.
All the while, Bong peppered the story with genuine warmth, tightly tense moments and laughs - big laughs; like really big, laugh out loud moments.
Only perhaps the epilogue was a bit too on the nose but then again, it would not be surprising if even that goes over the general audience.
The whole cast was fabulous, from the main family to the supporting characters. Not one person felt extraneous or made to perform beyond their capability.
This film was Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and “Us” brought to a higher, smarter, tighter level; scathing social commentary that entertained but yet capable of making the audience uncomfortable without appearing overly preachy or didactic.
The whole tone of the film tethered along this fine wire of drama, comedy and bleak social commentary with an unyielding, constant feeling of unexpectedness and unnerving tension.
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