The film, starring Song Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongChoi Woo-shikPark So-damJang Hye-jinPark Myung-hoon and Lee Jung-eunfollows a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family, infiltrating their household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.
The script is based on Bong's source material from a play written in He later adapted it into a page film draft, and it was split into three different drafts by Han. Bong stated that he was inspired by the Korean film The Housemaidand by the Christine and Léa Papin incident in the s.
Filming began in May and finished that September. Darcy Paquetan American film critic and author, provided English translations for the film's international release. Parasite premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 21 Maywhere it became the first Korean film to win its top prize, the Palme d'Or.
It was released in South Korea by CJ Entertainment on 30 May, and was praised for Bong's direction and screenplay, and also for its editing and production design. It has since been cited as among the best films of the s, the 21st century, and of all time.
The Kim family live in a semi-basement flat banjiha in Seoul, have low-income jobs, and struggle for money. Min-hyuk, a university student, gives the family a scholar's rock meant to promise wealth. Leaving to study abroad, he suggests that the Kims' son, Ki-woo, pose as a university student to take over his job as an English language tutor for Da-hye, the daughter of the rich Park family.
After his sister Ki-jung helps create a false certificate for him in PhotoshopKi-woo, posing as a Yonsei University student, is subsequently hired by the Korea parasiter vatten family. The Kim family schemes to get each member a job with the Park family.
Ki-woo recommends "Jessica", actually his sister Ki-jung, as an art therapist for the Parks' young son, Da-song. Ki-jung frames Yoon, Mr Park's chauffeur, by making it appear he had a sexual encounter in the car, then recommends her father, Ki-taek, to take his place.
The Kims exploit the peach allergy of the Parks' long-time housekeeper, Moon-gwang, to convince Mrs Vattenrelaterat that she has tuberculosisand the Kim matriarch, Chung-sook, is hired as her replacement. Ki-woo begins a secret romantic relationship with Da-hye.
When the Parks leave on a camping trip, the Kims revel in the luxuries of the house. Moon-gwang appears at the door, telling Chung-sook she left something in the basement. She goes through a hidden entrance to an underground bunker created by the architect and previous homeowner who was too embarrassed to inform the Park family of its existence.
There, Moon-gwang's husband, Geun-sae, has been secretly living for over four years, hiding from loan sharks. Chung-sook refuses Moon-gwang's pleas to allow Geun-sae remain in the bunker in exchange for regular payments, but the three other eavesdropping Kims accidentally reveal themselves.
Moon-gwang videotapes them on her phone inadvertently revealing their deception and threatens to expose them to the Park family. The Parks call to say that they are returning early due to a severe rainstorm.