Parasite from South Korea won big at the 92nd Academy Awards (2020 Oscars). The dark social satire acquired four awards and among them was the best picture award.
The first non-English-language-movie to ever win the best picture shocked the world in real life and online, on Twitter for instance. Korean movie critic Ha Sung-tea said that this was a miracle.
“I am speechless. We never imagined this would ever happen. We are so happy. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now,” said Kwak Sin Ae, one of the movie’s co-producers.
Regarding the glorious night, South Koreans welcomed the achievement jubilantly. Of the celebrations, one of South Korean arguably biggest news agencies, Chuson Ilbo, participated in awe to witness the awarding night.
“Can you believe that Parasite won the Academy best picture? It rewrote the Academy’s 92-year history,” the paper wrote.
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Parasite, a New Chapter of Movie Industry in South Korea
Following Parasite’s triumphant performance specifically during 2020 Oscars, a great attention shifts to the country’s movie industry. South Korea, currently sits atop of top five biggest movie industries globally, marked the first world record ever to win Oscar in best picture category.
As South Korean social media receives an enormous amount of praises, the country successfully cultivates its soft power. Together with the wildly popular K-Pop led by BTS, Parasite brilliantly attracted interests worldwidely.
Aside from Parasite, South Korea actually almost won other Oscar awards previously. Burning, another South Korean movie, came so close last year and The Handmaiden won a Bafta in 2018.
Pertaining to Parasite’s victory, even President Moon Jae-in expressed his appreciation and gratitude towards Director Bong Joon-Ho and team. Later on Twitter, President Moon said he was “grateful to them for giving courage and pride to our people who are overcoming difficulties.”
Related to the triumph, movie critic Ha Sung-tea argued that Bong’s exceptional talents are unusual even in South Korea itself. That said, he suggested that the government explores other potentials from other directors as well for promoting dissimilarly unique perspectives.
“To create the next Bong Joon-ho will be a long term project for the Korean film industry. Director Bong Joon-ho is unique. I think now the government, the industry, and big conglomerates need to all work together to promote diverse creators and their unique perspectives.”
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