Park So-dam and Choi Woo-sik play as siblings in "Parasite". (Image via: Variety)

South Korean’s “Parasite” Wins Palme D’Or

CANNES - South Korean’s hegemony in entertainment continues. At the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Bong Joon-ho – South Korean director – managed to make his country proud by bringing the Palme D’Or trophy for his “Parasite”, a dark comedy movie showcased in the festival.

For the Korean himself, this might be the highest accolade he had ever had, and for Cannes, he is the first Korean to ever won the prestigious French award. Winning Palme D’Or is almost the same like winning Ballon D’Or, was he a soccer player. His movie, “Parasite” was the second comedy movie that ever gets the trophy.

For some people, they might not have known Bong, if he had not won Palme D’Or. But for the hardened movie fanatics, Bong Joon-ho is one of the greatest. His works directing Snowpiercer (2013) was hailed as one of his best achievements in movie industry. His Korean movie, Memories of Murder (2003) The Host (2006), also gained accolades and other compliments from the movie experts both domestic and global. But, “Parasite” certainly is his “Mona Lisa”.

“Parasite” tells us about a struggle of a socially excluded family who strive to build their life. The movie starts as usual and rather comedic before it hits a grim ending. 

Next, “Parasite” will be shown at Sydney Film Festival in June. Will it get the same response as Cannes?

The contrast could be said to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time.... in Hollywood” which was loudly expected to bring home the Palme D’Or, but instead, it came home empty-handed.

In other news, Antonio Banderas won the Best Actor for his act in Pedro Almodovar’s “Pain and Glory”, in spite of his age of 58. Three female directors won awards, despite lashes toward Cannes for their pressure on women’s role in cinema industry.