3 Bong Joon-ho's Movies to Watch If You Still Can't Get Over Parasite
A Korean director became the first to win both the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar, and the first non-English-language filmmaker to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
But before the main success, there were plenty of movies worth watching.
Memories of Murder (2003)
Bong's second full-length is based on the true story of Korea's first serial killer.
Set in the 1980s, the movie follows two detectives who investigate a series of murders in a small rural town.
The motion picture is a master class in thriller storytelling and showcases the director's ability to craft a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat narrative.
It should be noted that Memories of Murder is one of the favorite films of Tarantino, who always draws inspiration from Asian culture.
Mother (2009)
Upside down version of Memories of Murder, dark and twisted feature-length tale of maternal love and sacrifice.
The film follows an old woman as she tries to clear the name of her mentally disabled son after he is accused of murder.
A chilling exploration of the lengths to which a mother will go to protect her child. Bong's direction is both subtle and disturbing.
The film received critical acclaim and was selected as South Korea's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.
Okja (2017)
Bong's first English-language film, the movie is a biting satire of the meat industry.
The picture follows a young girl named Mija who has formed a deep bond with a genetically modified "super pig" named Okja.
When a powerful corporation tries to take the animal away to use for their own profit, the girl sets out on a mission to save her friend.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano, and showcases Bong's ability to blend humor and heart with his social commentary — a kind of training before Parasite.
The Korean creator had made excellent films even before his main career success, but his last movie became a real cultural phenomenon that allowed the director to unite the audience of the author and the mass cinema, leading to an incredible triumph.