Bong Joon-ho: "Parasite"

A family of one-percent loonies is a family of parasites: contributing little or nothing, drugged, mocking the hired help. ("My driver smells like cabbage.....")

Another family--impoverished--sees an opportunity. "We will make ourselves indispensable to the rich family." One by one, the members of this poor family "move in" ....A tutor, an art therapist, a driver, a chef/maid.

In their climb, the members of the poor family *also* become parasites. They trample on defenseless people. A qualified maid is brutally dismissed; a preexisting driver is set up for failure, in a shocking way.

The war of all against all escalates....and escalates....Eventually, there is murder.

This is a nice Ruth Rendell-ish piece with a twist. Hollywood conditions us to expect that the poor will be--always, inherently--virtuous; if you would only hand power to the oppressed, then all would immediately, automatically "end well." ....."Parasite" bravely suggests that something else may be true.

Best Picture? Meh. But, yes: It's worth seeing.

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