The Korean film 'Parasite' has been selected as the top film in the '100 best films of the 21st century' by The New York Times.
On the 27th (local time), the American daily newspaper The New York Times announced that the Korean film 'Parasite' (directed by Bong Joon-ho) ranked first in the '100 best films of the 21st century.'
'Parasite' is a work by director Bong Joon-ho that premiered in 2019, depicting the story of Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho) and his family, who live as unemployed people, and their entanglement with CEO Park (the late Lee Sun-kyun). In particular, the film has drawn attention for sweeping four awards, including Best Picture, at the Academy Awards and winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Regarding the film, NYT introduced it as "a humorous yet twisted, unsettling, and shocking work that tells the story of the haves and have-nots, and delivers a fierce critique of the brutality of neoliberalism," and praised that "genre master Bong Joon-ho, who is not bound by convention, glides seamlessly between broad comedy and sharp social satire, culminating in a catastrophic eruption of tragic violence that burns everything to the ground."
In particular, about director Bong Joon-ho, it noted, "At the time this film was released in the U.S., Bong was a director known only among art film fans, but by the end, he became a global superstar holding a handful of Oscar trophies, including the Academy's Best Picture award."
Additionally, other Korean films were also highlighted in this '100 best films of the 21st century' list from The New York Times. The film 'Oldboy' (directed by Park Chan-wook), released in 2005, ranked 43rd, and another work by Bong Joon-ho, 'Memories of Murder,' ranked 99th.
NYT introduced 'Oldboy' as the second film in Park Chan-wook's revenge trilogy, following 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance' and 'Lady Vengeance.' It particularly praised the long-take action scene of the protagonist Choi Min-sik, stating, "It delivers an intense shock as if struck by a hammer. Especially in the scene where he punches his way through the hallway full of gangsters, hitting every inch of the body—head, legs, and arms—this widely discussed action sequence symbolizes the violent opera presented by this twisted thriller." Furthermore, it noted, "It is not only violence that escalates to extremes. Emotions are also pushed to the limit, provoking and unsettling the audience while maintaining tension until the final ambivalent and ominous scene."
Additionally, NYT described Bong Joon-ho's 2005 work 'Memories of Murder' as "a Korean-style police drama that is not constrained by Hollywood genres. It showcases Bong's firm belief in the limits of humanity against evil. Unforeseeable humor and sharp drama blend and unfold in Bong's unique style."
The '100 best films of the 21st century' published by NYT is compiled from films released since January 1, 2000. More than 500 individuals, including globally renowned directors, actors, writers, film producers, comedians, critics, and film enthusiasts, participate in the voting. It is reported that famous actors such as Julianne Moore and John Turturro, as well as directors like Pedro Almodóvar and Sofia Coppola, participated in this voting.
[Photo] Provided by each film's poster.
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