MovieChat Forums > Gisaengchung (2019) Discussion > One thing bothered me

One thing bothered me

posted 4 years ago by TheKeel (102)
25 replies | jump to latest

I did not buy it AT ALL when the family allowed the former housekeeper to enter the Park house when she came to collect the item she left behind. The Kims up to that point had shown themselves to be pretty street smart, certainly not stupid, and it would have been the logical thing to have said, "Tell me what you left behind, I'll go get it and bring it to you." It was so evident that letting her in would be way too risky, and the movie jumped the shark a little for me at that point.

[–] orangeflava (1725) 4 years ago

Well I think the family still wanted to keep appearances and just get her her things and have her leave. They didn't care what she needed as long as she got in and got out. If they denied her she may have kept coming back and could have eventually disrupted their infiltration as she knew some of them weren't who they said they were. So the easiest way was to give her what she wanted. But little did they know what she wanted would screw everything up the way it did...

[–] TheKeel (102) 4 years ago

Well, maybe their guilt induced them to let her in, but to me it did not seem realistic in the least given how shrewd they all were up to that point. I think especially the daughter would have been hip enough to know that letting in someone whom the Parks had dismissed unjustly was not only dangerous but would be a serious breach of privacy, and the daughter's ability to act haughty and entitled in every other situation would have made it the most logical response to tell her to wait at the door while SHE collected the item for her. Of course, the filmmaker knew it wasn't an "item" she came to retrieve, so maybe that colored things as well.

[–] Calledforblackup (88) 4 years ago

The whole second half falls apart due to stupidity, i.e. the family crowding around the steps and just ~happen~ to slip down the steps, then the son bringing the stone downstairs and IT happened to slip. HOW MANY THINGS ARE GONNA SLIP DOWN THE FUCKING STEPS.

[–] TheKeel (102) 4 years ago

[–] charliekelly (1018) 4 years ago

The way the family was discovered by the former maid was my only critique of this film. I felt like there could have been a better way. Although, there was still a heavy comedic tone to the film at that point, so I sort of forgave it, in the light of slapstick comedy. To say the entire film falls apart in the second half is also quite comedic.

[–] noveltylibrary65 (200) 4 years ago

lol don't forget the maid going right down them too

[–] [email protected] (1288) 4 years ago

LOL agree with you on the freaking steps!

[–] PeteyandJia (300) 4 years ago

Fair criticism. They also wouldn't have let her go down by herself at first. They are all con artists, & con artists know to watch out for other sneaky people.

[–] TheBigSleeper (1) 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure this is their first con, brought about by monetary need. I don't recall there ever being any reference to previous cons. My perception was that they saw a great opportunity to literally get out of the gutter and they took it.

It's also a little unfair to label the Kims stupid for letting in a person who, in their experience, poses no threat to them in any way. The Kim family don't know that they're part of a dark comedy/thriller, after all.

[–] PeteyandJia (300) 4 years ago

I don't mean that they are super slick con artists, who would have known something was fishy because they are professionals. I mean that it's the basic nature of any liar or scammer to not trust anyone else. So I don't think they would have trusted her. They also would be on super high alert anyway, because they didn't want to be caught, which would have made them trust her even less.

[–] Filmtenk2 (3351) 4 years ago

Great film all around. If we're going to nitpick, why did they have the young boy in the rich family translate the Morse code message and nothing became of it?

[–] bounce (62) 4 years ago

yup - that thought struck me too.

That smacks of a scene cut - but them why bother with the snippet with him translating it.

[–] Maya (116) 4 years ago

I thought about that too. Maybe the boy hadn't learned English yet? It could have been just gibberish to him.

[–] Ace_Spade (9334) a year ago

He was also translating it wrong. "Holp me," e.g.

[–] fc31 (4535) 4 years ago

They are not professional con artists, they are average people, just desperate enough. They caused her to lose her job, so the woman felt sorry for her. It is understandable. I don't think most people would have the heart to reject her entry.

[–] Mcboogerballs (118) 4 years ago

Besides the fact that they arent exactly professional con-artists, I think they were quite drunk in this scene as well. Possible cause for such a massive slip up

[–] Maya (116) 4 years ago

I think them being drunk and also having no reason to think ill of the former housekeeper was also a part of it. They knew they completely framed her and she never showed evidence of being a bad person.

[–] [email protected] (1288) 4 years ago

The film lacked in realism for sure..It was too unbelievable for me, as I prefer a film depicting a true segment of peoples lives. There were so many moments where I rolled my eyes which isnt a good sign. I mean the son got bashed in the head not once but twice with a heavy rock and survived. The family hiding under the table undetected. The morse code... I could go on and on.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah, there were a few things like that in the movie.

It didn't bother me too much, though. The movie wasn't really going for realism. It was a dark comedy about human nature.

[–] Psychobunnie (3) 4 years ago

Exactly, the movie was not going for realism, it is a cinematic take on some social issues presented in a very dark comedic way, nothing real there.