Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Parasite (2019 film)

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho. It follows a poor family that infiltrates a wealthy household, exposing class inequality and social resentment.

What it is

Parasite centres on the Kim family, who live in poverty and scheme their way into jobs with the wealthy Park family. The story blends dark comedy, suspense, and social satire as hidden tensions and secrets unravel.

Why it matters

The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture — the first non-English-language film to do so. It also took the Palme d'Or at Cannes and is widely studied in Canadian film criticism as a landmark of contemporary world cinema.

Key details

Directed by Bong Joon Ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won. The title refers to how characters live off one another across class lines. The ending is bleak and violent, with the son imagining an unlikely future.

In short

  • Parasite is a black comedy thriller about class division and deception.
  • It won four Oscars, including Best Picture — a first for a non-English film.
  • The title reflects how people exploit others for survival or status.
  • Frequently referenced in Canadian film criticism as a world cinema milestone.
Canadian angle

Parasite was widely distributed and discussed in Canada as part of its international awards success, and it is frequently taught or referenced in Canadian film criticism and media as a major example of contemporary world cinema.

Quick questions

What is the movie Parasite about?
It follows a poor family that infiltrates a wealthy home by taking jobs under false pretences, leading to a darkly comic and tragic examination of class division.
Who directed Parasite?
Parasite was directed by Bong Joon Ho.
How many Oscars did Parasite win?
Parasite won four Academy Awards.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite_(2019_film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, screenplay credit, and premise of a poor family infiltrating a wealthy family's home.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parasite-2019-film
    Supports: Film overview, director, international acclaim, class-satire interpretation of the title, and major award recognition.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/
    Supports: Plot summary, genre blend, and concise description of class conflict and the Park/Kim families.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/parasite_2019
    Supports: Genre classification and synopsis mentioning greed and class discrimination between the Park and Kim families.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/parasite-movie-review-2019
    Supports: Critical discussion of the film's poverty, class themes, and social commentary.