Movie Analysis

Movie Analysis

Movie: Parasite by Bong Joon-ho

1. Overhead Shot

    Toward the end of the movie, after the explosive bloody fight the Kims and Parks experience when Geun-sae comes out from hiding in the basement, the director uses an overhead shot to really display the mess created at Da-song's birthday party. In more detail, overhead shots are usually used to establish what is going on below. In fact, it makes Ki-taek seem isolated and abandoned as he is the only one in this large grassy backyard after everyone runs away. It shows Dong-ik on the ground after being stabbed by Ki-taek, and the food spilled everywhere and napkins flying around. It remains in an overhead shot as it follows Ki-taek as he is walking around in the mess he created, looking frantic. As he approaches a pair of stairs leading down, the audience can assume that he is fleeing from the crime he committed.

2. Low-Angle Shot and Over-the-Shoulder Shot

    Yeon-kyo, who is the mother of the wealthy Park household, is seen looking down at Ki-woo, the impoverished son of the Kims, using the low-angle shot and over-the-shoulder shot to establish their wealth and social standing. In more detail, this is another constant reminder of their wealth contrasts and the discrimination faced by the Kims throughout the story, which is a major theme in the movie. The shot is a visual representation of their difference, and the viewers can feel it by the elevation of where she is standing, looking stronger and more powerful compared to Ki-woo, who is lower and closer to the camera as he looks up at her, making him look inferior.

3. High-Angle Shot

    In this high-angle shot, Moon-gwang is shown begging the Kims to spare her some mercy as she reveals her husband, Geun-sae, is hiding in a secret room in the basement of the Parks home and needs someone to take care of him as she is no longer the housekeeper. As a matter of fact, this is utilized to make her seem powerless and weak, and it exhibits her desperation, where the audience might feel empathetic for her as it puts her in a vulnerable position and displays her despairing attempt to protect her husband by pleading on the ground.

4. Close-up Shot

    The close-up of Ki-woo scraping off the peach fuzz using a razor blade is used to clearly show what he is doing with the peach and to emphasize the importance. Basically, it highlights that the peach fuzz will be used against Moon-gwang as it reveals she is deadly allergic to peaches. The audience can predict the course of the story that he will put the fuzz on her and cause her to have an allergic reaction, where she would eventually be fired as Yeon-kyo thinks that she has tuberculosis. Thus, this would be the last job the Kims would obtain for their family and complete their goal of taking over all the Park's household jobs.

5. Extreme Wide Shot and Ground-Level Shot

    The extreme wide shot and ground-level shot allow the audience to absorb all the visuals and symbols in the scene to set the mood. The Kims clearly seem accustomed and comfortable at the Parks' expensive home while they are out camping for Da-song's birthday. To reiterate, after putting their efforts into making their way slowly into the Parks household, they have accomplished it. As a matter of fact, it shows their false sense of reward and achievement as they lay on the grass careless. The gloomy and dark weather and lighting of the scene as if it will rain forebodies a suspenseful and unfortunate event. Thus, this might evoke an apprehensive mood as the audience can predict something horrible will happen.