Trump mocks Oscar-winning South Korean film Parasite
Donald Trump has mocked the South Korean film Parasite after it scooped the best picture prize at the Oscars – telling a crowd he wished for the return of Hollywood classics like Gone With The Wind.
Director Bong Joon-ho’s commentary on class struggle made history when it became the first foreign language film to win the top prize at the Academy Awards this month.
The film is shown with English subtitles.
Parasite also earned Bong best director and won both best original screenplay and best international feature.
Neon, the North American distributor of the film, responded to Mr Trump’s comments by saying they were “understandable” because he “can’t read”.
Understandable, he can’t read.#Parasite#BestPicture#Bong2020https://t.co/lNqGJkUrDP
— NEON (@neonrated) February 21, 2020
The US president had bemoaned the film’s success during a rally in Colorado.
The president asked the crowd: “How bad were the Academy Awards this year?”
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Imitating an Academy Awards presenter, he said: “And the winner is a movie from South Korea! What the hell was that all about?
“We got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give him best movie of the year? Was it good? I don’t know. Let’s get Gone With The Wind. Can we get Gone With The Wind back, please?
Parasite: Everything you need to know about Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film
“Sunset Boulevard? So many great movies.”
Mr Trump added: “Did this ever happen before?”
Gone With The Wind is a film about the Civil War-era South that won best picture 80 years ago.
The president also took aim at Brad Pitt.
The Hollywood actor said when accepting an award that he got more time to speak, 45 seconds, than former national security adviser John Bolton received at Mr Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
Mr Trump said: “And then you have Brad Pitt.
“I was never a big fan of his. He got up, said a little wise guy thing. He’s a little wise guy.”
Parasite is one of the most acclaimed films of recent years.
Bong’s satirical dark comedy veers wildly between different genres as it tells the story of an unscrupulous poor family’s often hilarious attempts to embed themselves inside the home of a rich family.
It moves from comedy to horror before building up to a gruesome conclusion.
Parasite was a popular choice for best picture at the Oscars, winning ahead of Sam Mendes’s well-fancied war epic 1917.
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Bong addressed the issue of Western audiences being reluctant to watch foreign language films during his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
He said after winning the best foreign film award: “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
Mr Trump also gave a harsh review of Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential debate, particularly the performance of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who the president said had a poor night.
The president said: “I was going to send him a note saying: ‘It’s not easy doing what I do, is it?’ It’s not easy, Mike.
“It’s not easy for any of them.”
