Bong Joon-Ho and Parasite made history at the Oscars last night by becoming the first ever foreign language film to win best picture.
Following a run of huge successes, Bong topped off his awards season with perhaps the most prestigious award in film for his comedy-thriller Parasite.
All eight of the other nominees were English language films, including The Irishman, Little Women, Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Joker, and Ford v Ferrari.
Starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, and Park So-dam, Parasite is also the first film with a primarily Asian cast to win best picture at the Oscars.
The black comedy tells the story of a poor Korean family who seek to be employed by a gullible rich family by feigning impressive qualifications, before a grisly discovery is made. The film boasts fantastic performances, scathing social commentaries and an unrivalled blend of humour and tension.
Bong also won best director, best original screenplay, and best international film at the Oscars, meaning he left the ceremony with four shiny awards as well as a further two nominations.
When he accepted his best picture award, Bong thanked and spoke of his admiration for some of his fellow nominees:
“Thank you. After winning best international feature, I thought I was done for the day and was ready to relax. Thank you so much. When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is that ‘The most personal is the most creative’.
That quote is from our great Martin Scorsese. When I was in school, I studied Martin Scorsese’s films. Just to be nominated was a huge honor. I never thought I would win.
When people in the U.S. were not familiar with my films, Quentin [Tarantino] always put my films on his list. He’s here, thank you so much. Quentin, I love you.
And Todd [Phillips] and Sam [Mendes], great directors that I admire. If the Academy allows, I would like to get a Texas chainsaw, split the award into five and share it with all of you.
Thank you. I will drink until next morning, thank you”.
#Peace.Love.BongJoonHo
