Page 38 - The Hollywood Reporter (January 2020)

BEST PICTURE
Parasite

After winning the top prize at Cannes, earning nearly universal
acclaim and exceeding box office expectations, Bong Joon Ho’s

film is the first Korean feature to compete at the Academy Awards
BY REBECCA KEEGAN

roducer Kwak Sin-ae has known $25 million of that from typically subtitle- something like this happening, but it was
Bong Joon Ho since the late 1990s, averse domestic audiences. Kwak spoke to THR never a realistic dream. To see it happen in
when she was an eager young film about the challenges of marketing the inde- reality, it’s very surprising. It all feels a little
journalist covering South Korean finable film, the disappointment in seeing its bit bizarre as well.
P cinema and he was a promis- actors go unrecognized amid the thrill of the
ing young director making short films. Now other Oscar nominations and what she hopes In the past few years, the Academy has
Kwak, 51, has produced Bong’s rapturously the honor means for the future of the Korean been trying to become a more international
received Parasite, which collected six Oscar film industry. organization, to invite more members from
nominations — including best picture, best outside the United States and to be less

director and best international feature — and What does it mean to you that Parasite centered on Hollywood films. Do you think
became the first South Korean film to garner is the first South Korean film to get an there’s a need for an organization of that type?
that recognition from the Academy. Oscar nomination? Just based on pure facts, regardless of value
Part thriller, part black comedy, part social KWAK SIN-AE A lot of people watch the Oscars judgment, in reality it’s true that the Oscars
satire, Parasite has transcended boundaries there, and there are a lot of fans of cinema, have been an event that really represents
of genre and nationality, grossing more than including myself. Ever since I was young, I American cinema and Hollywood. It’s true PARASITE: COURTESY OF NEON (2). BONG: STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE.
$137 million worldwide since it unspooled at would see Oscar trophies on posters of films that films that receive a lot of recognition
the Cannes Film Festival in May, more than that won them. I always had the fantasy of from the Academy gain a lot of influence in

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