South Korean social satire Parasite won the Oscar for best picture on Sunday, making history as the first non-English language film to win the highest honour. Bong Joon Ho also won the best director Oscar for the film, becoming the first person from the Asian nation to win the award.
Parasite won a total of four Oscars, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for Bong Joon Ho and Best International Feature Film.
The filmmaker beat Hollywood veterans including Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino for his Korean language movie. In his acceptance remarks, Bong gave a shout-out to both directors. "When I was in school, I studied Martin Scorsese`s films. Just to be nominated was a huge honour. I never thought I would win," he said as the audience rose to its feet in applause. "When people in the U.S. were not familiar with my film, Quentin always put my films on his list. He`s here," Bong added. "Quentin, I love you!"
And then reprising a remark he made after winning, best international picture, he said: "I will drink until next morning. Thank you."
"I never thought I would win," Bong said while accepting his best director Oscar. Paying tribute to his four fellow director nominees he said, "I would like to get a Texas chainsaw and split the Oscar into five and share it all with you."
Parasite is by far Bong's most successful film to date, reaching audiences beyond his home country and winning the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
