Parasite

Main Plot

"Parasite," directed by Bong Joon Ho, is a darkly comedic thriller that explores themes of class disparity and social inequality. The story follows the Kim family, who live in a cramped, semi-basement apartment and struggle to make ends meet. Their fortunes change when the son secures a tutoring job with the wealthy Park family. Gradually, the Kims infiltrate the Park household by securing various positions under false pretenses, displacing the existing staff. As the Kims become more entangled in the Parks' lives, their deception leads to unexpected and increasingly dangerous consequences. The film masterfully blends tension, humor, and social commentary, culminating in a dramatic and thought-provoking climax.

Characters

• Ki-taek, played by Song Kang-ho, is the father of a poor family who infiltrates a wealthy household by taking on various service jobs, leading to unexpected consequences.
• Lee Sun-kyun plays Mr. Park, a wealthy tech executive whose family becomes entangled with the scheming Kim family, leading to dramatic and tragic consequences.
• Cho Yeo-jeong plays Yeon-gyo, the naive and wealthy mother who hires the Kim family members, unknowingly entangling her family in their deceptive schemes.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Bong Joon Ho's film "Parasite," the story reaches a dramatic and tragic climax during a birthday party for the Park family's young son. Ki-woo (Kevin) and his family, the Kims, who have infiltrated the wealthy Park household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified professionals, face exposure. The former housekeeper's husband, who has been secretly living in the Parks' basement, emerges and attacks the Kims. He kills Ki-woo's sister, Ki-jung, and severely injures Ki-woo. In the ensuing chaos, Mr. Kim, the father, stabs Mr. Park, the wealthy patriarch, in a fit of rage and desperation, then flees the scene. The film concludes with Ki-woo recovering from his injuries and discovering that his father is now hiding in the basement of the Park house. Ki-woo dreams of earning enough money to buy the house and free his father, but the film ends ambiguously, leaving it unclear whether this dream will ever be realized. This ending underscores the persistent and insurmountable class divide, highlighting the futility of the Kims' aspirations and the cyclical nature of poverty and social stratification.