PARASITE BABY

Finally watched the movie Parasite last night. Sometimes, when a movie or book or album us super-hyped by both reviewers and friends, I find my self pushing back. Maybe I want the joy of discovery. Maybe I'm just ornery. Most likely a little of both. And it's silly, because almost every time, once I finally see it, I am glad I did. Either because they were right and it's amazing, or because they were wrong and I can't wait to discuss it with them. So finally, many months after it came out, I took my WGA screener DVD (one of the perks for being in the screenwriters union) which had been sitting in front of the tv since we first got out shelter in place order, popped it in, and watched the movie.

And man. So good. So not what I expected. I knew it was a thriller of some sort, with a political message. Sort of like Get Out set in Korea or something. And in a way, it is. But it's so much more. So funny, interesting, quirky, and exciting. One of those rare movies that grabs your attention and never lets it go. As soon as it was over, I wanted to watch it again. Maybe it's the time we are living in that made me react so strongly to it. I think I would have loved it even if I first saw it in that other world that was my life before the virus. It hits all the buttons, tells a great story, and is never didactic. It is rough, like any good thriller should be. People in this movie do terrible things. Selfish, cruel, insane things. And yet they are all, to a certain degree, sympathetic. While it is about class, about economic desperation and what that can drive people to do, it's not an angry picture, I think. More of an honest depiction of what we are all capable of. And the imagery! So good. There is this one sequence during a huge rainstorm that is so brilliant. it makes you feel like you are dreaming. And like a dream, each movement, each image has meaning and feeling. Some are clear, some instinctual, but all intense. When the movie was over, I felt like I do when I wake from one of my more vivid dreams, or like when I get off one of my favorite rides at Disneyland or out of a truly awesome concert or play: exhilarated, spiritually charged, and full of love for humanity.

I think love doesn't mean you accept a persons flaws or condone their mistakes. I think it means you try to help them be happy it you can, and point out things they are doing that are hurting themselves and others. If you love somebody, you do set them free. Unless they are a serial killer. Then you lock them up. For the everyone's own good, including the killer. Seeing Parasite made me think on that aspect of love and our country right now and our current leader. Because after he made the bizarre suggestion about injecting disinfectant into people's bodies to cure the virus, there was a lot of talk on the internets, and one long post by a good friend of mine on the right about how it's time to love and forgive and not be nasty. Which I totally agree with. I think some of the memes and posts are so mean and crazy it is truly disturbing. Some are just mean spirited and childish. Some are violent, sexist, and/or racist. Most of them don't really encourage any sort of debate or thought. When my friend wrote his post, I made the comment "love is groovy". Which I believe to be true. But that doesn't mean I think we should just give the president a mulligan. I don't think anyone in charge gets a mulligan. They get a long hard look at what they are doing. Lives are at stake, after all. No, we speak truth to power. We just don't be assholes about it. We do it with love, and empathy, and out of a desire to save lives and make the world a better place.

And if they do turn out to be serial killers, we lock them up.

Ok. Here's a song. It's Parasite, by Kiss, from the way way back.