Parasite – Streaming on Amazon Prime

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
HOME

31 July 2020 — 31 March 2021 Entrance is free — Book now

Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes Palme d’Or-winning Parasite is a record breaking Academy Award winner, but this spiky, socially-conscious Korean thriller is not your typical contender. Parasite follows two families, the Kims and the Parks. We meet the Kim family — father Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), mother Chung-sook (Chang Hyae-jin), son Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik), and daughter Ki-jeong (Park So-dam)  – living in their semi-basement apartment. As with many around them, they struggle for work, existing on odd menial labour such as folding pizza boxes.

The Kims’ fortunes take a turn when Ki-woo is offered the chance to tutor Da-hye (Jeong Ji-so), the high school aged daughter of the wealthy Park family. Armed with forged documents, Ki-woo pretends to be a college student and ingratiates himself with the family, particularly gullible mother Yeon-gyo (Cho Yeo-jeong.) He recommends his sister who impersonates an art therapist to teach the Parks’ youngest son — and budding Basquiat — Da-song (Jung Hyeon-jun.) Before long the pair have tricked and schemed their parents into jobs within the household too.

Parasite is a film built on suspense and sleight of hand. Its slick technique and compelling characters have earned its director comparisons to Spielberg and even Hitchcock. Director Bong deftly orientates us in the Parks’ modernist house, as its pristine staircases, huge windows and sheltered garden prove a playground for deception and, eventually, violence. Bong’s previous two films, Snowpiercer and Okja were also concerned with social inequality, but in their use of metaphor and sci-fi elements they felt overly straightforward. Parasite is greyer, knottier – and all the better for it.

31 July 2020 — 31 March 2021

Book Now

What's on:

Until
ActivityManchester
Eat The City – Scranchester Tours

Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.

from £60
Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
life drawing
Until
ActivityManchester
Life Drawing Manchester

Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.

from £10
Until
ActivityManchester
Sí Manchester Daily Tour

Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.

free entry

Culture Guides

Exhibitions

There's no rest for the art lover - this month brings outdoor sculpture, musings on water, political drawings and Liverpool Biennial 2023!

Music

We look towards a summer filled with quality festivals, from cultural behemoths to grassroots gems.

Winnie the Pooh at Manchester Opera House
Families

The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Classical Music

Summer's classical music calendar is filling up nicely! Read our top picks of concerts happening in Manchester and the North.

Gerry Potter (credit Lee Baxter)
Literature

Books are big this summer, with festival readings, poetry slams, creative writing activities and famous faces all putting in an appearance.

Food and Drink

All signs point toward June being a scorcher of a month, so let’s take a look at all things summery food and drink.

Tours and Activities

From literary activities to brilliant independent shops, keep your minds and homes filled with the good stuff this month.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Check out our updated guide for lively theatre festivals, rip-roaring rooftop circus and dreamy outdoor shows.