OPENING SEQUENCE PARASITE

What is the term for the apartment that the Kim’s live in?

Banjiha

When and how did banjihas first arise?

First arose in the 1970’s as South Korea had fear that North Korea would attack them. Only in the 1980’s were they used for housing due to the housing crisis during that period of time.

What do the streets sloping upwards represent?

The Kim’s position in the lower class and their aspirations to climb the social ladder

In the banjiha, how are the rooms used and what is the apartment like?

It is dirty, cluttered and cramped, and the rooms are multifunctional.

Name a couple of the props used which signify struggle.

Ki-taek drinking water and eating moldy bread, silver medal which represents no recent success and how someone is always above them.

What prop is used as the main symbol throughout the film?

The viewing stone, symbol of traditional Korean culture and we are told by Min that it is meant to bring material wealth.

When Min gives the viewing stone to Ki-woo, what does he say?

‘‘This is so metaphorical.’’ The stone is an obvious motif to externalise Ki-woo’s inner desires

What is the family’s reaction to Min and why?

They are happy to see him and praise him, highlights how important it is to have an education in university, it is essential for social status in Korea.

What is the proxemics like between the Kim family?

The family are seen close together and are usually all in frame with each other in the opening, comfortable intimacy.

What does the manipulation of the pizza shop owner represent?

The lack of solidarity between the low income workers and the dog-eat-dog society where the poor exploit each other to survive.

Describe the camera moment of the opening shot and what is represents.

The camera cranes down vertically from the window to Ki-woo below the street level to visually symbolise the Kim’s lower social status

What clever frame is used when Ki-woo and Min are having a drink together?

He frames Min in a low angle with the upward trajectory of the hill in the background to symbolise his higher social status and the fact he is on the right path to university.

What kind of angle is frequently used on the Kim family?

A high angle is frequently adopted to symbolise their lower social status in society.

What kind of lighting is used in the banjiha?

Cheap artificial fluorescent lighting in the form of harsh strip lights which emit a slightly green hue.

In the opening, describe a time where a cutaway shot is used.

A cutaway shot is used when Mrs Kim asks Ki-Taek to do something instead of sleeping, and then we have the cutaway shot to the silver medal. This highlights how she is the driving force of the family.

In the opening, describe a time where a jump cut is used.

It is used when the pizza shop owner is counting the Kim’s money, to their celebrations. This shows that money is important to lower class families, and its centrality within capitalism.

What DIEGETIC music is used in the opening sequence?

It is an ambient diegetic sound of the street heard which reinforces the Kim’s lack of privacy.

What NON-DIEGETIC music is used in the opening sequence?

Rising piano music with some low steady chords to create tension and a sense of inevitability.

What can the music be described as in the opening sequence?

CONTRAPUNTAL, suggesting change where we don’t see the possibility of anything changing. It is also grand for a shot of dirty socks and stealing WiFi, this characterises the dark humour within the film.