Urging American Film Students to Stand Against Asian Hate Crimes
"We Must See Through the Essential and Central Questions of Our Society..."
Director Bong Joon-ho of the film 'Parasite' urged American filmmakers to stand against anti-Asian hate crimes.
According to ABC News on the 13th (local time), Director Bong participated as a guest lecturer in an online masterclass organized last week by the College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University in the United States. He mentioned recent hate crimes against Asian Americans and the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, saying, "It makes me think about what the film industry can do right now."
Director Bong stated, "Filmmaking requires a lot of time and money. It is difficult to respond quickly to issues happening in society today," but added, "Because of these factors, creators and producers can approach problems with greater courage." He emphasized, "Filmmakers should not be afraid to confront social issues."
He pointed to Spike Lee's film 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) as an example of appropriately addressing social issues. The film is regarded as having predicted the 1992 LA riots. It conveys the seriousness of racial issues through an incident where a minor dispute escalated into racial riots. It indirectly references the harsh treatment of Black people by white police officers and the rape of a Black girl.
Director Bong said, "You should use your insight not to predict what will happen in society, but to depict the issues boiling beneath the surface right now." He introduced, "'Parasite' was a film that tried to take such an approach," explaining, "It started with the question of what it means to be rich or poor in the current era." He emphasized, "Creators and artists must see through the essence and central questions of our society and answer those questions through their works."
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