Besides Parasite, These Are 5 Must-Watch Bong Joon Ho Films

Bong Joon Ho (Instagram @TheAcademy)

JAKARTA - The film Parasite won many trophies at the 2020 Oscar awards ceremony. This award made the film the first foreign language film to win the highest Oscar in history.

Bong Joon Ho as the director succeeded in bringing the issue of social inequality into an interesting spectacle. However, before making Parasite, Joon Ho has many films that can be used as recommendations and VOI will summarize them for you.

Memories of Murder (2003)

This film made Joon Ho the center of attention because he made a film based on a true story. It's no secret that Memories of Murder is inspired by the serial killings that took place in Hwaseong in 1986. Memories of Murder tells the story of detective Park Doo Man who solves murder cases throughout the year. Park Doo Man learned the technique of finding someone through eye contact.

This film won appreciation and was named the best South Korean film of all time according to the Korean Film Archive. Collaborating with Song Kang Ho as the main actor, this will be their second first collaboration. Song Kang Ho's acting led him to receive a Best Actor nomination at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

The Host (2006)

Song Kang Ho and Bong Joon Ho's duet continues through The Host. This film tells the story of an unidentified monster coming to the Han river in Seoul. This monster kills people and takes Hyun-Seo (Go Ah Sung). When their family realizes Hyun-Seo is restrained, they try to save her.

After the success of Memories of Murder, the film The Host became much awaited by film lovers. In fact, it is true because 13 million tickets were sold during the screening in theaters. Not only that, The Host has also bought a number of awards in its home country and received positive responses from international critics.

Mother (2009)

A widow lives with a mentally challenged child in a city in South Korea where she sells medicinal herbs. This mother and son found a woman's corpse. However, the widow's son became the main suspect as the investigation proceeded. The mother tries to save her child.

The film Mother competed in Un Certain Regard at the 2009 Cannes film festival. The film received a positive response and Kim Hye Ja's performance in this film was highly praised. Because of its popularity, Mother was released again in 2015 in the United States.

Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer is Bong Joon Ho's first work involving actors and actresses from South Korea and abroad. The film stars Chris Evans, Ed Harris, Tilda Swinton, Go Ah-Sung, and Luke Pasqualino. Snowpiercer is Bong Joon Ho's first project to be dominated by English. The film is also undergoing an adaptation process to a television series.

Adapted from the French novel by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, Snowpiercer tells the story of a train journey belonging to billionaire Mr. Willford who walked across the world's rails. Earth's temperature has dropped dramatically, leaving life on the train. Curtis (Chris Evans) leader of the rear carriage tries to seize the 17-year-old train engine and tries to meet up with Mr. Willford.

Okja (2017)

A CEO of Mirando Corporation, Lucy Mirando, announced that she was developing a super pig. A total of 26 species will be housed in different locations around the world and within 10 years to be awarded the trophy as the best pig. 10 years later, a boy named Mija lives to take care of a pig named Okja with his grandfather. But when Mija heard that Okja would be taken to New York City, Mija tried to save her so that Okja would come back with her.

Circulated through Netflix, this film collaborates with Tilda Swinton again and invites Choi Woo Shik in the film before working on Parasite. Okja premiered at the 2017 Cannes film festival. The New York Times named Okja the most influential film of the decade. You can also watch this film via the Netflix streaming service.