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 in 2019, 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,” director Bong Joon-ho 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. (ABS-CBN)
