Palme D'Or Winner 'Parasite' and A Touch of Handel

Parasite, winner of this year's Palme d'Or, reached a quite big international success. While movie is basicly about the class difference, narrative manages to distinguish the movie from others. This black comic thriller has a big twist from an innocent comedy to a dark end, confusing audience to the end. Original soundtracks are composed by Jung Jaeil. But, don't be surprise to hear Handel in this masterpiece. While circumstances one by one were leading us to an inevitable tragedy, every little detail mattered. Just like the smelling of a lower class, gently placed detail quickly twisted the story, usage of Handel's opera 'Rodelinda' definitely has its own significance.

**Spoilers ahead ! :) 

As the Kim family manages to make themselves hired one by one, audience were sensing the increasing suspence of getting caught. With Kim family's sympathy and Park family's naiveness, we weren't feeling guilty by the actions of Kim's. This feeling will be changed by the first twist of the cave men and later will be twisted again by the non-justifiable but understandable anger boost of the main character. But before these, we were still in the safe zone. 

One of the most enjoyable scenes of the movie was the master plan that Kim family planned for the mother to get a job. In order to whole family to be part of the upper world, the plans get complicated along the way. Once an innocent lie became the master plan of accusing and hurting someone else. In order to still kept the audience on their side, a comic and wonderful master plan scene made us laugh. We were'nt alarmed. However, on the background an aria from Handel's opera ''Rodelinda'' was hinting us. “Spietati io vi giurai'' was playing at the background: Rodelinda swearing agains the cruel men. This was the  prayer of the housekeeper, begging for her and her husband's wellness. 

Cruel men, o hear me swear,
to my son I give my heart,
you may raise my grief and fear
but can never make me part.
Me that husband never shall
in his marriage bonds, enthral,
that has been my greatest foe,
only cause of all my woe.

​The second time we hear Handel is at the birthday party at the end. This time, audience is super restless (still doesn't have a clue on what will happen), but since Park family who has no clue, at the background we hear ''Mio caro bene”, a joyful aria fitting into the birthday party sang the singer at the party. The happy background makes the audience even more tense, as expected. Still, the tenseness is for the secrets to come out, noone expected two deaths from both family. 

While I embrace you, o embrace the child.
Thy sighs, thy sobs, my love give o ́er,
my heart is now, no longer, sore,
and grief and pain shall feel no more.
Seeing thee pleased,
has hush`d my care,
come to my breast, its pleasures share,
now love has fix`d his dwelling there.

​Two different aria from Handel's Rodelinda cannot be a coincidence. This means not only the arias have meaning but the whole opera choice has a meaning, also. Rodelinda is about usurpation: Grimoaldo taking over the throne from Bertarido along with his wife and kid. However, at the end of the opera, everything turns back to normal. In 'Parasite', after all the events happened, nothing changed also. Kim family, now seperated, still lives at the same place. Park family is replaced by another wealthy family that has a 'ghost' in the basement. Not a happy ending like Rodelinda, but a status quo is protected. Maybe they were happy at the beginning after all ?

​Ece Demirel