Parasite / Gisaengchung (2019) [Criterion Collection]

Director: Bong Joon Ho
Writer: Bong Joon Ho (story by), Bong Joon Ho (screenplay by)
Stars: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo

A zeitgeist-defining sensation that distilled a global reckoning over class inequality into a tour de force of pop-cinema subversion, Bong Joon Ho’s genre-scrambling black-comic thriller confirms his status as one of the world’s foremost filmmakers. Two families in Seoul—one barely scraping by in a dank semibasement in a low-lying neighborhood, the other living in luxury in a modern architectural marvel overlooking the city—become entwined in a dangerous relationship that will lay bare the dark contradictions of capitalism with shocking ferocity. A bravura showcase for its director’s meticulously constructed set pieces, bolstered by a brilliant ensemble cast and stunning production design, Parasite cemented the New Korean Cinema as an undeniable international force when it swept almost every major prize from Cannes to the Academy Awards, where it made history as the first non-English-language film to win best picture.

Extras:
- New audio commentary featuring Bong and critic Tony Rayns
- Black-and-white version of the film, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack and a new introduction by Bong