Parasite, director Bong Joon Ho’s twisted satire on class divide, leap-frogged through 92 years of Oscars history to become the first non-English and South Korean film ever to win the best picture award.
The movie, a cleverly crafted, stylish genre-bending story broke the “one inch long subtitle barrier” that its director Bong famously had talked about in the run up to the Oscars to sweep the top categories that also included the international feature, best director and original screenplay.
The director, who had already come up the stage thrice and promised to drink the night away, let his producers bask in the limelight for the big finish.
“I’m speechless. We never imagined this to ever happen. We are so happy. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now,” co-producer Kwak Sin Ae said in her acceptance speech via interpreter Sharon Choi.
As the lights dimmed, award presenter Jane Fonda and the audience, including Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Charlize Theron, urged the Academy to let the team finish their speeches.
Bong still did not come up to the mic, letting Miky Lee, the South Korean movie mogul, to speak about the film. “I like everything about him, his smile, his crazy hair, the way he talks, the way he walks, especially the way he directs. What I really like about him is his sense of humour…he never takes himself seriously. Thank you for being you,” Lee said.
Later, talking backstage to Academy’s ‘Thank you cam’, the director called the win “surreal”.
While Parasite’s chances in the international category were a lock, the best picture and director win was a huge upset for British filmmaker Sam Mendes’ war drama 1917.
The South Korean film was also up against seven other films: Ford V. Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. (PTI)
Bong Joon Ho creates Oscar history with best picture win for Parasite
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