What made Parasite win big at the Oscars 2020?

Bong Joon-ho’s deftly executed ‘Parasite’ recently became the first non-English-language film to win the ‘Best Picture’ Oscar Award.

Released in 2019, ‘Parasite’ awed the critics and the audiences alike through its masterful storytelling and gripping plot. But what exactly made this movie give the likes of ‘Joker’, ‘1917’ and Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ a run for their money?

← Here is Why →

‘Parasite’ is a dark story with a poor family at its center. The family then goes on to infiltrate the lives of a wealthy family (much like a ‘parasite’), one member at a time. The cleverly executed plans of the family fall flat when they discover another person hidden in the basement of the wealthy family’s house. All the conniving intentions lead to a heart-wrenching resolution that makes up for a befitting climax for this one-of-its-kind story.

← Plot →

Multiple subplots are interwoven in the movie. Every other subplot has a twisted, rather disturbing detail that sends a chill down the viewer’s spine. The movie, in its entirety, keeps the audience glued to the screens and makes them long for almost all of the characters. The direction seems to transit so smoothly, it is almost unbelievable how complex the story is. The cinematography is another feather in the cap.

A scene in particular — where the wealthy family is away on a rainy night and the ‘parasite’ family is having a good time; and much to the horror of the whole family, the doorbell rings — makes the heart race.

← Reason →

The reason why the movie was well-received was the fact that the movie, although in an unnatural way, focuses on the economic disparity. It is about a family who doesn’t believe in the maxim of ‘the rich become richer, and the poor become poorer’, and decided to take the reins of their lives in their own hands. The characters are richly developed in this social satire of a movie. The climax keeps the audience in shock and awe long after the credits have rolled in.

← Conclusion →

For all the cinematic souls who are skeptical about the Korean audio, rest assured that the movie-watching experience is equally good with the English subtitles. Described by the creators as ‘a comedy without clowns, a tragedy without villains’, ‘Parasite’ makes up for a thrilling watch.