The 'Parasite' best picture win is stunning. And shatters the Oscars' 92-year-old glass ceiling
In a range of fall releases, including “Joker,” “Parasite,” “Hustlers” and “Knives Out,” major movies take on issues of class and income inequality
One of the many ironies underpinning the victory of “Parasite” is that Bong, more than most of his contemporaries, is a student and ardent lover of American cinema, someone who grew up watching Hollywood movies on American Forces Korean Network, the TV channel for U.S. soldiers stationed in Korea. You see that love in his work.His 2003 masterpiece, “Memories of Murder,” is an epistemological serial-killer thriller that anticipates David Fincher’s “Zodiac” .
It’s instructive, I think, that after two stabs at going Hollywood, it was Bong’s return to Korean filmmaking — to an intimately scaled, modestly budgeted production with an entirely Korean cast and crew — that resulted in a mid-career masterpiece, a movie that spoke more directly and powerfully to audiences than anything he had made in years. He made a movie, in short, that met the academy more than halfway — and the academy, to its credit, responded in kind.
And not one that I expect will be repeated anytime soon. No one who has followed the Oscars with any regularity over the years can be naive enough to think that progress is a straight line; a major step forward one year will almost certainly be answered by two steps backward the next. Post-“Parasite,” I wouldn’t steel myself for a sudden succession of best picture winners hailing from China, Mexico, Germany or Senegal.
There will be retrenchments and detours. There will be reminders that the academy, in retaining its long-standing members while broadening its international reach, is an unwieldy organization often at cross-purposes with itself, where one hand scarcely knows what the other is doing. Maybe that’s another reason to celebrate “Parasite” and the anxious, unsettled moment to which it speaks so indelibly: This may be the greatest movie ever made about, and for, a house divided.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Oscars 2020 recap: 'Parasite' breaks barriers, Eminem's unexpected performance'Though Judy Garland did not receive this honor in her time, I am certain that this moment is an extension of the celebration of her legacy.' Renée Zellweger accepts the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in 'Judy.' Oscars
Read more »
Oscars 2020 recap: 'Parasite' breaks barriers with best picture win, Eminem's unexpected performance'I really, really, really want to thank our Korean film audience, our moviegoers...without you, our Korean film audience, we are not here.' Oscars
Read more »
'Parasite' made Oscars history: 5 things to know about the filmThe cast of 'Parasite' takes a selfie at the 92nd Academy Awards. Bong Joon Ho's film is up for six awards at the 2020 Oscars.
Read more »
Hollywood Celebrates ‘Parasite’s’ Best Picture Oscar: ‘Massive! Historic! Landmark!’Bong Joon Ho’s acclaimed South Korean thriller “Parasite” became the first foreign-language film to win best picture at the Oscars, and the historic win had Hollywood heavyweights…
Read more »
South Korea's 'Parasite' beats Hollywood greats to make Oscar history'Parasite' director Bong Joon Ho's South Korean film racks up four Oscars and breaks barriers as the first foreign-language film to win best picture
Read more »