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| South Korean director Bong Joon-ho accepts the award for Best International Feature Film for "Parasite" during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, Feb. 9 (local time). AFP-Yonhap |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The South Korean film "Parasite" stunned the entertainment world Sunday, winning big at the 92nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
Director Bong Joon-ho's first ever Oscar-nominated film won four awards ― best picture, best original screenplay, best international feature film and best director ― becoming the first Korean film to ever receive an Oscar.
"Parasite" is the first non-English language movie to win the top prize in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards.
It was also nominated in the best editing and best production design categories, but failed to win.
The 50-year-old director, who had once described the Oscars as "very local," delightfully accepted the trophies.
"Writing a script is always such a lonely process. We never write to represent our countries, but this is the very first Oscar for South Korea," Bong said through an interpreter in his acceptance speech after winning the best original screenplay award.
"I thank my wife for always being an inspiration to me. And I thank all the actors who are here with me today for bringing this film to life."
The "Parasite" cast ― Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin, Lee Jung-eun, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park So-dam, Choi Woo-shik and Park Myung-hoon ― were there and rejoiced at the winning moments at the ceremony held in the Dolby Theater, Sunday (local time).
In the best original screenplay section, "Parasite," co-written by Bong and Han Jin-won, beat Noah Baumbach of "Marriage Story," Sam Mendes of "1917," Quentin Tarantino of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and Rian Johnson of "Knives Out."
Co-writer Han said, "As there is Hollywood in the U.S., in Korea we have Chungmuro. I would like to share this honor with all the storytellers and filmmakers in Chungmuro."
Among international feature films, it won over "Corpus Christi" by Jan Komasa, "Pain and Glory" by Pedro Almodovar, "Les Miserables" by Ladj Ly and "Honeyland" by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov.
Upon winning the best director award, Bong showed admiration for his fellow nominees.
"When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart: 'the most personal is the most creative,'" Bong said. "That quote was from our great Martin Scorsese. Just to be nominated was a huge honor, I never thought I would win."
He also thanked Tarantino, saying "When people in the U.S were not familiar with my film, Quentin always put my films on his list. Quentin, I love you."
"Todd (Phillips) and Sam (Mendes), great directors I admire. If the Academy allows I would like to get a Texas chain saw and split the Oscar trophy into five and share it with all of you," he added.
After winning the best picture, producer Kwak Sin-ae said, "I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now. I express my deepest gratitude and respect for all the members of The Academy for making this decision."
"Parasite" is a story of two economically polarized families, one poor and one wealthy. The story develops as the son of the impoverished family, with the help of his sister, fabricates his educational background and works as a tutor for the daughter of the wealthy family.
"Parasite" has earned enormous praise across the world since May last year, when the film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It won the best foreign language film award at the Golden Globes as well as best original screenplay and best film not in the English language at the British Academy of Film Awards.
"I think what resonated with the global audience is that Parasite presents deeply-rooted social class boundaries and inequalities in such an entertaining and engaging way," culture critic Ha Jae-keun said.
Another culture critic, Jung Duk-hyun said, "Parasite's win is symbolic in a way that it's not only been recognized by filmmakers and critics, but by the general audience. This shows how Hollywood is willing to break down cultural barriers and bring in global interests."
