Parasite: the first foreign language film to win Best Picture Oscar

BY ALI NAQVI –

1917 could be the first ever film whose title is a number to win the best picture Oscar. If not, Joker could make history to become the first comic book based movie to strike the Oscar gold. How many of us thought that history would be created by the most unlikely film, Parasite. I was not convinced of the merit of the film, winning four Academy Awards, until recently when I watched it.

Watching a foreign language film is never an easy task. It is laborsome to say the least. You have to keep an eye on the action on screen while focusing on the fast appearing subtitles at the bottom. A slight shift in focus from the text to the main action can spoil the movie and you have to go back and watch it again where you lost it. This is one of the reasons why films made in languages other than English usually do not become a part of the popular cinema culture.  

Parasite has not just created history, it has changed the perception. Academy Awards though considered the most prestigious film award on the face of the earth because of its 92 years of history yet it was never short of critics. We have seen many snubs throughout its long and glorious history and countless undeserving flicks to win big at this platform. A South Korean movie taking the limelight at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood has truly made Oscars the biggest Award of the world.

Apart from the battle in the Best Picture category, all eyes were set on Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. We all knew the result, just as we did when Heather Ledger was nominated for the same role, but still it was not less eagerly awaited to see Joaquin Phoenix grab his first Oscar.

Celebrities dazzle the red carpet as Parasite created history at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Academy Awards 2020 is unique for a number of reasons. The records that are meant to be broken did broke and the expected did actually materialize. The fun filled ceremony among cheers, jubilations and awe has created new stars while expanding the horizon for the already bright and luminous ones.

Full list of winners:

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Parasite

Gisaengchung (original title)

Sin-ae Kwak, Bong Joon Ho

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Joaquin Phoenix

Joker

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Renée Zellweger

Judy

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Brad Pitt

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Laura Dern

Marriage Story

Best Achievement in Directing

Bong Joon Ho

Parasite

Gisaengchung (original title)

Best Original Screenplay

Parasite

Gisaengchung (original title)

Bong Joon Ho, Jin Won Han

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi

Best Achievement in Cinematography

1917

Roger Deakins

Best Achievement in Film Editing

Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker

Le Mans ’66

Ford v Ferrari (original title)

Best Achievement in Production Design

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Little Women

Jacqueline Durran

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Bombshell

Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, Vivian Baker

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)

Joker

Hildur Guðnadóttir

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

Rocketman

Elton John, Bernie Taupin

For song “I’m Gonna Love Me Again”

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

1917

Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Le Mans ’66

Ford v Ferrari (original title)

Donald Sylvester

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

1917

Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, Dominic Tuohy

Best Documentary Feature

American Factory

Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, Jeff Reichert

Best Documentary Short Subject

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)

Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva

Best Animated Feature Film

Toy Story 4

Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen, Jonas Rivera

Best Animated Short Film

Hair Love

Matthew A. Cherry, Karen Rupert Toliver

Best Live Action Short Film

The Neighbors’ Window

Marshall Curry

Best International Feature Film

Parasite

Gisaengchung (original title)

South Korea

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