Full Dish: Disecting the Stair Scene in Parasite

Parasite,an experience of a movie, has recently hit theaters and let me tell you, if you have the chance go see this movie do it. If you haven't heard of the movie yet you can watch a trailer here. [x]The dedication to each piece of the film, from the lighting, color work, set, music, acting, it all forms this incredible cohesive experience of anticipation and intense stress. You can tell the level of detail was meticulously worked on, each scene, amounting to an immersive story.

There is nothing within me that disbelieves the fact that at its heart, this is a story about poverty. But there is so much depth within the movie that you can get a lot of metaphor and ideas about society from the details. The contrast of worlds is stark in the right way, and all the build up feels right to the intense scenes that encompass the last arch of the movie.

I am intent on re-watching this movie as many times as I can to do what I, and many love to do, over analyze. I find this movie, this story, is absolutely made for picking apart the details and going in depth. Everything feels truly deliberate, and with that comes the breeding grounds for speculation, foreshadowing, and hidden meaning.

Understand that as a person, I do not usually watch a lot of movies, especially not in theaters. I generally find them overwhelming and anxiety inducing in the wrong ways. This movie is so good I was able to push through just to see more of it. I do not usually get this excited about a movie, or much of anything, so take that for what it is.

Fair Warning: Spoilers ahead, please read at your own risk. I highly suggest watching the movie before you read ahead.

[Note: My memory is poor and so I am writing this at a time where I have only seen the movie once, there are no quotes and some of the placement of moments may be off. I believe however that I can still talk about the impact and metaphor in the scene that I find important and striking]

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There are many amazing scenes and moments and switches in characters that stand out to me, and hopefully I will come back to write about more of these moments. I would like to focus on one scene in particular for now.

Following the intense scenes of the Kims escaping the Park's household after their altercation with the former housekeeper Moon-gwang and her husband Geun-sae, the family is forced to make their way home, leaving Chung-sook to tend to the Parks, drenched by the torrential downpour. This entire section of the movie is driven in downwards motion, down from the expensive house on the hill, down through car tunnels and many stairs, reminding us of the true position of the family we are following.

Everything begins to be bathed in an Erie sort of orange light, as they get closer home. There is no longer just water as rain from the sky, as we get further its flooding their ankles. There's a frantic rush to get home, and as they are descending this set of stairs it feels larger and more intimidating. There are power lines almost obscuring them.

Everything about the scene, from the rain, to the lighting, to the power lines feels intentional. The power lines feel like an almost claustrophobic spider web, and it really sets in then on these stairs, their own tangled web of lies they've caught themselves in. They have left the false reality of living rich for one night, and are back into their convoluted lives.

Looking to Ki-taek for guidance and understanding in what had just transpired Ki-jeong begs her father for answers. While this is happening Ki-woo is standing in the rushing water half way up the steps. Being hit physically and emotionally with the weight of the night. The Kims will rush home to find their apartment flooded with rainwater and sewage, a true contrast to the glimpse of life in another world.

While rains are often used as melancholy atmosphere, or a way of showing a washing of the bad, the torrential downpour here feels like both a beating down on the Kims and also a way of stripping them of their facade and in a way washing them of their lies. It is a wonderful turning point to the movie, and gives you the smallest hint of rest before the more intense conflict begins, not much but just enough of a breath before you dive in.

The stairs, and particularly the power-lines are a scene I can just not get over. I think they are a great book mark in the story, and the imagery is powerful. I can not wait to watch again and pick the next scene or topic to write about.