Parasite
Long-awaited, Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite has finally been
released in the UK! I went to the preview and satellite interview at Glasgow
Film Theatre.
In the interview Bong says he doesn’t like to confine
himself to genres, human emotion is naturally a mixture is sadness, joy,
suffering etc so naturally he does the same in his stories. He has done this
seamlessly in this film! It was dark and twisted, funny and suspenseful. He was
greatly inspired by the way Hitchcock can build suspense.
The two main locations in this film are the semi-basement
which belongs to a lower-class family and an architectural upper-class house. Both
of which are actually sets. An incredible amount of detail went into building them so
hats off to the production team! Bong explores themes of class and social
inequality using this extreme contrast of poverty and wealth.
It is not easy to divide good and evil in reality. This is a
theme which Bong explores through the characters; each being flawed but equally
likable. Every actor delivered an exceptional performance!
Since seeing the film Parasite has won FOUR Oscars! This
includes best director, best international film, first Korean film to win best
original screenplay and the first non-English film to win best picture (which
tbh is shocking that it’s took them 92 years to do!).
Sadly, in the UK, foreign films are still a niche market. I
hope Parasite can help change British opinions on foreign film.
The lighthouse
Robert Eggers second film, The Lighthouse, is an uncomfortable,
psychological art film. Although I really enjoyed his first film, The Witch,
this was on another level as it felt much more focused. Both films examined themes
of gender, The Witch exploring femininity and The Lighthouse exploring masculinity.
The film plays into and somewhat mocks the stereotypical sailor. However, this
film is far from a cliché.
The setting was isolated to the lighthouse on a remote
island and featured only two characters. The film was shot in 1.19:1 ratio and
black and white which added to the claustrophobic and surreal mood of the film.
There was impeccable acting from both actors, Willem Dafoe’s
Shakespearean monologues were iconic! The use of sound in this film was interesting,
from the droning foghorn to the storm which intensifies with the character arc.
It really set the pace and tone in each scene.
This film felt like a weird fever dream. It has a way of
disorienting the viewers perception and draw them into the dark and twisted psyche
of the light keepers. It shares some similarities to The Shinning in the way it
captures the mind of a man in isolation.
Something I greatly appreciate about Eggers is how well
researched his work is. There’s a great documentary here on the making of the film
which shares some of the references for this film. As well as all the geeky camera
techniques, which I love! The cinematography was truly amazing, combining
modern and old-school techniques.
A note on GFT and the importance of supporting local cinema
GFT is one of Glasgow’s independent cinema which shows a
range of local and international films. They also show older films such as cult
classics, seasonal films and have a ‘Cinemaster’ series where they show the filmography
of chosen director. One of which is currently Alejandro Jodorowsky (I recommend
seeing the holy mountain – my review here). They also host a yearly Festival which
will start on the 26 Feb – 8 March this year.
The building has an art deco vibe and two bars. The place
has a nice atmosphere and community of people who genuinely care about film.
Tickets are around £7.90 (£6.50 on Tuesdays). They also have
a free 15-25 membership scheme meaning tickets are £6 and can earn loyalty
points. Which is actually cheaper than the likes of Cineworld btw! They also
offer access and visible film screenings for deaf, blind or autistic viewers.
I recommend visiting GFT over commercial cinemas as it is an
important part of the Glasgow film scene as it supports local filmmakers and creating
opportunities for young people in film.
Thanks for reading x
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