Since winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, director Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite has been an absolute favorite among critics, audiences and judges, as well as the entire circle of film buffs. Is there any consensus on what exactly it is? Is it a thriller? Black comedy? Maybe a family melodrama? Socially critical work?
The film's word-of-mouth recommendations went something like this: “Just watch the movie, okay?” Because the less you know about the film, the more you'll be surprised by its remarkable low-key series of surprises. The film is about a poor family that infiltrates the life of the wealthy. Bong Joon-Ho managed to portray this collision of two completely different worlds in a charming, at times tense and humorous way, which he deserves four Oscars (for Best Film, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay).
More than any of his Korean contemporaries, however, Joon-Ho has consistently defied categorization with all seven of his films straddling the boundaries of family tragedies, dark thrillers and comedies. And now is the perfect time to follow the incredible progress of one of the world's most exciting and unpredictable filmmakers.
Comedy drama
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)
The debut feature Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) is the story of a university lecturer (Lee Sung-jae) who is so disturbed by the barking of dogs in his block that he decides to take drastic action. In the following weeks, three dogs from the block miraculously disappear. What happened to them? Watch the movie, you won't regret it.
Crime drama
Memories of Murder (2003)
The film is about a serial killer, rapist and predator who killed 10 women in rural South Korea in 1986. Bong collaborated with actor Song Kang Ho for the first time in the making of this film. With his role as a local detective investigating a double murder, he brought a good measure of humor and pathos to the film. The successful collaboration resulted in three more films: The Host, Icebreaker and the winning Parasite.
Science fiction thriller
The Host (2006)
Although Bong became famous in the US with the film Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000), it was not until the film The Host (2006) that he really became famous as a great director. The film, which is a powerful critique of American imperialism, opens with the story of an American officer dumping gallons of formaldehyde into the Han River. The result is a genetically mutated sea creature that rises from the water six years later. The special effects from this film successfully stand up to Hollywood productions, so it's no wonder that the film has captivated audiences around the world.
Detective drama
Mother (2009)
After the successful film The Host, Bong took on a murder mystery film. Lead actress Hyej plays a widow who fiercely protects her mentally ill son (Won Bin), accused of murdering a girl. The protective mother takes up the investigation herself and decides to take justice into her own hands. Kim Hye's beautiful outline and unforgettable performance is multi-layered and mysterious.
Fantasy drama
Snowpiercer (2013)
Four years later, Bong finally braved the world of big-budget production with the sci-fi allegory Icebreaker. The political satire takes place in 2031 after a global climate catastrophe that destroys the Earth. The only survivors are sent on an ultra-fast train that will never stop, and no passengers will ever get off.
Its international cast of American (Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer), British (Jamie Bell, John Hurt) and Korean actors (Song, Ko Ah-Sung) blurs the line between cultures.
Science fiction drama
Okja (2017)
Okja talks about the merits and dangers of living in a small modern world. It is the story of a young girl who risks everything to stop a multinational company from kidnapping her best friend, the supernatural monster Okjo. The girl Mija thus sets out on a rescue journey, which begins to get complicated...
