The dichotomy of rich and poor is an issue world wide. Bong Joon Ho's Parasite shows this stark reality in a Korean setting. The poor may scramble for low paying jobs and rejoice at small paydays. When jobs dry up due to circumstances beyond your control, you are forced to start over, at the bottom. You must humble yourself in front of new employers and if you are lucky enough to get hired to this new job, you must learn new skills, adapt to new workplace environments, and worry about its sustainability. While the rich have solid employment or not work at all, they may live in lavish homes with a slew of employees to ease their burden of raising a family and maintaining a household.

Parasite is a fable about the haves and have-nots and the lengths you might go to in order to change your situation. A family of 4 live in a cramped half basement apartment in a squalid part of the city. Drunkards stumble and urinate in front of their street level window while they side hustle their way to earn very little money just to be able to afford a simple meal. Even though the parents once led respectable and fulfilling lives, they are now down on their luck. They have let their morals slide and are OK with their children being less than honorable if it means being able to put some food on the table.

Meanwhile, a wealthy family across town, lives without worry as long as their hired help adequately perform their duties of teaching their children, driving, cooking, and cleaning for them. When one of their children's tutors must leave town, he recommends the college aged son of the downtrodden family to take his position with the wealthy family. Now, he works for them and he can choose to be the kind of parasite that benefits its host or destroys it.

This dark comedy is beautifully shot and scripted and impressively gives life and purpose to each of its diverse characters. It uses the symbolism of stairways and windows masterfully. The settings of the grimy ramshackle neighborhood and luxurious home are characters unto themselves. The musical score is beautiful and the lessons you learn are plentiful. Don't be surprised if while the credits run, you sit in introspective contemplation. 

I viewed this film in Korean with English subtitles.