Oscars 2020: South Korea’s Parasite Becomes First Non-English Movie to Win Best Picture Award
South Korean movie Parasite has won best picture award at this year’s Oscars, becoming the first non-English language film to take the top prize.
Renee Zellweger won best actress for playing Judy Garland in Judy. Joaquin Phoenix was named best actor for Joker.
Laura Dern and Brad Pitt won the supporting acting awards for their roles in Marriage Story and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood respectively.
Parasite won four awards in total, while Sam Mendes’s 1917 took three.
The World War One epic 1917 had been the favorite to win best picture, but its awards all came in the technical categories.
Parasite‘s Bong Joon-ho beat Sam Mendes to the prize for best director, and also took the best original screenplay award.
The South Korean movie is a vicious social satire about two families from different classes in Seoul – one who live in poverty in a semi-basement, and another rich family residing in a large home.
It has now managed what no other subtitled film has done in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards and won best picture.
Bong Joon-ho said: “I feel like I’ll wake up to find it’s all a dream. It all feels very surreal.”
Producer Kwak Sin-ae, who collected the trophy, said: “I’m speechless. We never imagined this to happen. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now.”
There were boos when organizers tried to cut short the best picture acceptance speech by turning the stage lights off – leading the lights to be turned back on, allowing the celebrations to continue.
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Brad Pitt won the first acting Oscar of his career – picking up the best supporting actor trophy for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s movie.
He was the first winner of the night, and immediately used his speech to attack the way the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump were handled.
Brad Pitt referred to the fact that Republican senators voted against allowing witnesses including former National Security Adviser John Bolton to give evidence.
He said: “They told me I only have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week.
“I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it and in the end the adults do the right thing.”
Brad Pit, 56, moved from the political to the personal, paying tribute to co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and reflecting on his journey to Hollywood superstardom.
Joaquin Phoenix, who won best actor for his remarkable performance in the origin story about Batman’s nemesis, also used the podium to send a heartfelt message about the state of the world, saying actors have the power to give a “voice for the voiceless”.
After telling the audience to stop clapping him as he took to the stage – “Don’t do that” – Joaquin Phoenix managed to cover topics from animal rights and the environment to racism and sexism.
The vegan activist told the audience that “we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable”.
The actor also pointed out his own flaws: “I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been cruel at times and hard to work with, but so many people in this room have given me a second chance.”
Joaquin Phoenix ended his speech by quoting a lyric written by his late brother River: “Run to the rescue and love and peace will follow.”
Laura Dern won best supporting actress for playing a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story.
A day before her 53rd birthday, the actress said the award is the best birthday present ever.
Laura Dern comes from an illustrious acting family, but in winning managed something her parents have not. Mother Diane Ladd has been nominated for three Academy Awards, and dad Bruce Dern has two unsuccessful nominations.
She told the audience: “Some say never meet your heroes.
“But I say if you’re really blessed, you get them as your parents.”
Renee Zellweger used her speech to pay tribute to Judy Garland, who was nominated for two Oscars in the 1950s and 60s.
The actress said: “Judy Garland did not receive this honor in her time,
“I am certain that this moment is an extension of the celebration of her legacy.”