South Korea's 'Parasite' wins Oscar for best international feature film (updated)

Barunson Entertainment & Arts

10/02/2020 03:47

(Updates with Bong's acceptance remarks, share prices)
    By Bill Tarrant
    LOS ANGELES, Feb 9 (Reuters) - South Korea's "Parasite," a
pitch-black comedy about haves and have-nots in modern Seoul,
won the Oscar for best international film on Sunday after also
taking home the award for best original screenplay.
    The thriller, showing how struggling scammers insinuate
their way into the life of a rich family, with dire
consequences, was considered the front runner going into
Sunday's ceremony after winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes
Film Festival last year, as well as Golden Globe and Screen
Actors Guild awards last month.
    It has also proved a box-office hit, taking more than $161
million worldwide, including more than $30 million in North
America.
    "The category has a new name now, from best foreign language
to best international feature film," Bong said in his acceptance
remarks. "I'm so happy to be its first recipient under the new
name."
    The change from "best foreign language film" was made to
reflect a more positive and inclusive approach to movies made
outside Hollywood. 
    "I applaud and support the new direction that this change
symbolizes," Bong said. 
    Parasite, still up for two other Oscars including best
director and best picture, has garnered a pile of prizes during
this awards season, including the Oscar for best original
screenplay earlier in the night.
    "I'm ready to drink tonight," Bong concluded in his
acceptance remarks.
    The movie "stays ahead of its audience every frame of the
way," said The Wall Street Journal, while Variety called the
film "brilliant, caustic."
    Director and writer Bong Joon Ho said last month that the
accolades proved that international films were breaking the
language barrier with audiences.
    "We can say that thanks to the internet, social media and
these streaming services, the entire society is experiencing
less of these language barriers and perhaps 'Parasite' benefited
from that global trend," he said.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N29J15R
    Shares in South Korea's Barunson Entertainment & Arts Corp
 035620.KQ , the producer of "Parasite," soared as much as 16%
to their highest since June in anticipation it could collect a
prize. The stock settled about 4% higher after it won the Oscar
for best international feature film.
    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year
changed the name of the category to international feature film
from foreign language film to reflect a more positive and
inclusive approach to movies made outside Hollywood.
    "Parasite" beat out Poland's "Corpus Christi," "Les
Miserables" from France, Spain's "Pain and Glory," and
"Honeyland" from North Macedonia.
    Films from 92 countries were submitted this year.

 (Reporting by Bill Tarrant; Writing by Nick Zieminski;
Additional reporting by Hayoung Choi in Seoul; Editing by Jill
Serjeant and Sandra Maler)
 ((William.Tarrant@thomsonreuters.com;))