[2020 Academy] 'Gisaengchung' Dominated the Academy Awards

Winner of 4 Awards Including Best Picture, Best Director, International Feature Film, and Best Screenplay
Recorded as the First Foreign Language Film to Reach the Top at the Oscars

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The film Parasite dominated the Academy Awards, marking the first time a Korean film has entered the ceremony. It won four major awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film, and Best Original Screenplay.

On the 9th (local time), at the 92nd Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA, Parasite won Best Picture, beating out Ford v Ferrari, Joker, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, 1917, and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. It was recorded as the first foreign-language film to reach the Oscar's top honor.

Director Bong Joon-ho received the Best Director award, surpassing Martin Scorsese for The Irishman, Todd Phillips for Joker, Sam Mendes for 1917, and Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. He is the second Asian director to win this award, following Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2006) and Life of Pi (2013).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Upon receiving the trophy, Director Bong expressed his gratitude, saying, “While studying film as a child, the phrase ‘the most personal is the most creative’ deeply resonated with me. This was said by Martin Scorsese, who was also nominated alongside me.” His words prompted a standing ovation from the audience. He also mentioned each of the other nominated directors individually, expressing thanks and apologies. He then joked, “If the Academy allows, I would like to cut this award into five pieces with a Texas chainsaw and share it,” which once again filled the audience with laughter.

Parasite also won the International Feature Film award, beating out The Painted Bird (Poland), Pain and Glory (Spain), Les Mis?rables (France), and Honeyland (North Macedonia). It was selected as the best feature film made outside the United States.

Director Bong and writer Han Jin-won won the Best Original Screenplay award, surpassing directors Ryan Johnson for Knives Out, Noah Baumbach for Marriage Story, Sam Mendes for 1917, and Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. This marks the first time an East Asian has won this award. It is also the first foreign-language film to win since Pedro Almod?var’s Talk to Her (2002), 17 years ago.