Deconstructing Parasite: A look at the clever use of music in these 10 scenes
Much has been spoken about the rich-poor divide, depicted as a literal line between both families in Parasite. Here we delve on an underrated aspect: the clever use of music (Spoilers ahead)
The film begins with a shot of the impoverished Kim Ki-taek family. You will find that there’s no music at all during these bits. Music perhaps is a luxury their lives can can ill-afford at this point
Music, among other things, is hope. The first waft of music arrives—something akin to a wind chime—when Kim Ki-woo realises he can tutor a wealthy girl. Like the opportunity, the background is faint
As he first walks up (metaphorically and literally) towards the Park Dong-ik mansion, a lonely piano steps in, as lonely as Kim Ki-woo feels in the mansion at this time
A new opportunity opens up for the Kim family: A chance to tutor the young son. A group of violins make tentative entrances at this point, as Kim Ki-woo talks up his sister for the job
The circus is warming up now for the main act. A bass violin makes its arrival felt
A new musical member, the drums, arrives with a flourish as Kim Ki-jung, who's infiltrated the house as an art therapist, sees a chance to get her father in too
As she removes underwear inside the luxury car, the drums show excitement over the consequences of her action
When the architect and the owner of the mansion, Park Dong-ik, spots this underwear, the drums hit the loudest note. This is also the loudest the music of this film gets so far
Things are about to get even better for the Kim family... and even louder
The musical equivalent of a boss--Western classical orchestra--makes its grand arrival, when the men of both family meet for the first time, at Park Dong-ik’s office
The grand finale approaches. The infiltration is now well and truly on. You will find that the violins do not let up now. Even during conversations, you can hear their mischief in the background
There's just one more person to bring in: the mother in the Kim family. This is the hardest job, a heist almost, that demands everyone's involvement. The maid needs to be dethroned
This sequence is the best of the film. As the Kim family unite to execute their grandest deception, the orchestra, as a hat-tip to them, rises to a crescendo. The music is all-consuming now
Mission accomplished. The infiltration is complete, as the Kim family shares the spoils
The mother brings the fruit of the labour, literally, here, as the music settles into a content, soothing opera. It's time to relax
When the Kim family return home to drink together, this time, finally, there's music accompanying their interaction.
Contrast this with the silence of the opening dinner sequence. They can now afford... music. After this defining hour in Amazon Prime Video.
