Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite made history. The South Korean class satire won four big awards: best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international film.
All were the first Oscars for a Korean film. Bong and co-writer Han Jin Won became the first Asian writers to take the screenplay prize.
Parasite has emerged the first non-English language film to win the best picture.
As it has for much of awards season, Parasite appeared the favourite in the room. A standing ovation greeted Bong’s win for international film.
“I am ready to drink tonight,” said Bong to roars from the crowd.
Unexpectedly called up again for best director, Bong saluted his fellow nominees, particularly Martin Scorsese, and concluded: “Now I’m ready to drink until tomorrow.”
Bong has surely turned out to be a milestone as he also became the first Asian nominee to win the best original screenplay.
The director did not shy from thanking all his contemporaries in his acceptance speech.
An emotional Bong Joon Ho said: “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.”
He added, “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 honour.
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.”
The movie follows the members of a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.
For her realistic and intense performance in Judy, Renee Zellweger won the ‘Best Actress’ award.
Brad Pitt won his first acting Oscar (for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Laura Dern (for Marriage Story) took home the best-supporting actress and Joaquin Phoenix (for Joker) won the best actor Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards.
