Bong Joon-Ho Says 'Parasite' Oscar Noms Feel Like Scene From 'Inception'

Bong Joon-Ho’s blockbuster hit “Parasite” has been created waves since the time of its release. The movie garnered universal acclaim and has won more than 100 international awards so far, making it the most acclaimed film of 2019. But Joon-Ho’s moment of glory came when it was announced the movie has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Speaking in an interview with Deadline after the announcement, the 50-year-old director revealed that he feels like he is a part of Christopher Nolan’s movie “Inception” and he is just going to wake up and realize that it was all a dream.

Talking through his translator and fellow filmmaker Sharon Choi, the acclaimed director noted that it is a happy moment for him that he has been recognized for his work. But he later joked that he might wake up and realize that he is still on the set of “Parasite,” dealing with all the difficulties that popped up while making the film.

“I feel it is like ‘Inception.’ Soon I am going to wake up and realize this was all a dream, I am still in the middle of ‘Parasite’ and all the equipment is malfunctioning. I see the catering truck on fire and I’m wailing. But right now, everything is great and I am so happy,” Joon-Ho said.

The movie had its world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or. It became the first Korean film to receive the award as well as the first film to do so with a unanimous vote since 2013's “Blue is the Warmest Color.” Joon-Ho has already won Best Director for "Parasite" at the Critics' Choice awards. He shared the trophy with Sam Mendes, who won the award for "1917."

Apart from Best Picture, the dark-comedy film has been nominated in five different categories at the Oscars. The other nods include a Best Director nod for Joon-Ho, Foreign-Language Film, Original Screenplay, Editing and Production Design.

It is only the sixth movie to be nominated for Best Picture and Foreign-Language Film on the same night. The previous movies to achieve this massive feat are “Roma” (2018) “Z” (1969), “Life Is Beautiful” (1998), “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000), and “Amour” (2012).

Interestingly, all of the movies mentioned above went on to win the award for Best Foreign-Language Film but failed to win the Oscar for Best Picture.