Armando Gimenez ’22
The Oscars marked a moment of major transition this past weekend that is a fresh breath for cinema lovers world-wide. In today’s modern and over-saturated society, most movies can appear to be overfilled with action, CGI, and PG13 violence. Today’s most famous films are full of action and multi-million dollar companies trying to build their own cinematic universe. The inclusion of big-name actors, such as Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Will Smith, bring such hype and excitement for upcoming films in today’s society.
This trend shows a large problem with modern cinema and how it could all seem so formulaic. One of the most hyped movies of the year, “Avengers: Endgame” was just an accumulation of the characters and commitment we, the audience, have put in over the past 10 years. That fantastic film worked so excellently because it brought together the characters that we have grown to love throughout our lives and psychologically brought a perfect conclusion to our childhood love.
That fantastic film worked so excellently because it brought together the characters that we have grown to love throughout our lives and psychologically brought a perfect conclusion to our childhood love. Even though the film was an excellent event that I would never want to unsee, I still find it a little disturbing that it takes years of commitment and over twenty movies to find a “mind-exploding” cinematic experience. But things would begin to take a different turn for cinema in late 2019, with the introduction of two movies “Joker” and the critically acclaimed Korean masterpiece, “Parasite.”
Although Joker’s impact and meaning is clear and has been excessively discussed, Parasite rose from relative anonymity to best film, carried by its greater message and cinematic brilliance. Parasite is a commentary on the cruel reality of contemporary society and how the people within it are treated.
The film has a Korean family, riddled with poverty, at its center and shows their harsh reality and the parasitic relationships between the characters they interact with. Without spoiling the immense twist and turns of the movie, it can be quickly told as an intense ride filled with suspense, love, and comedy. I personally left the theater not knowing whether I should be horrified, happy or grateful for my own upbringing. This movie can be enjoyed by anyone, due to its relatable characters, superb writing, and incredible cinematography. I cannot find any fault within this film. I only have one fear that people will not fully accept and appreciate the film because of the language barrier presented by the setting.
With every second the film breathes fresh air upon the viewer. The intense symbolism and foreshadowing expressed throughout the film reveal such harsh truths about our society and its impact on innocent people that are forced into cruel situations by the world they didn’t ask to live in. As I was watching the film, I never thought “What a great reflection of life?” Instead, all I could think of was how the film exuded the presence of life. The center of the film was life, its main point of focus was life and its destructive yet beautiful nature. Even though I can say a million fantastic things about this film, it would just take away your own experience from viewing the movie. The only thing I have left to say is to watch the film with bright eyes and a clear mind because it is bound to be an event you won’t forget.
The Salesian Spectator 