LOS ANGELES — A foreign-language film finally conquered the Oscars.
In a historic victory that highlighted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ scramble to diversify its voting ranks following the outcry over #OscarsSoWhite, the South Korean thriller “Parasite” won best picture — the first foreign-language film to do so — and collected three other trophies on Sunday night, including one for Bong Joon Ho’s directing.
“Parasite,” a genre-defying tale of class warfare, allowed voters to simultaneously embrace the future — Hollywood may finally be starting to move past its overreliance on white stories told by white filmmakers — and remain reverential to decades-old tradition: Unlike some other best-picture nominees, “Parasite” was given a conventional release in theaters.
“Parasite” is the first South Korean movie nominated for best international feature (formerly known as best foreign-language film) as well as the first nominated for best picture. What was the first film to snare nominations in both categories?
Federico Fellini’s “8 ½”
Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
Costa-Gavras’s “Z”
Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers”
