For the first time ever, a non-English language film has won the best picture Oscar at the Academy Awards.
On Sunday, South Korean film ‘Parasite’ took home the top prize at the 92nd Academy Awards. The movie was considered an underdog headed into the ceremony, but beat out strong competition from ‘1917’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ for the best picture award.
The film also won the award for the best international feature, best director and best original screenplay. It is South Korea’s first nominated film. ‘Parasite’ was up for six awards during the evening, CNBC reported.
“I’m speechless,” Kwak Sin Ae, producer of ‘Parasite’, said during her acceptance speech. “We never imagined this to ever happen. We are so happy.”
The Korean-language film is about the Kim family — mother, father and two adult children — who are poor and unemployed and their plot to seek employment with a wealthy family.
“I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now,” Sin Ae added.
Among the other notable wins:
The Oscar for leading actress went to Renee Zellweger (Judy)
The Oscar for leading actor went to Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
The Oscar for best director went to Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)
The Oscar for best supporting actor went to Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
The Oscar for best supporting actress went to Laura Dern (Marriage Story)