Back in 2019 and 2020, Bong Joon-ho had a huge couple of years. Not only was the South Korean filmmaker responsible for 2019's best movie in Parasite, but that same thrilling flick nabbed the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and took out Sydney Film Festival's top prize. Oh, and it cleaned up at the Oscars, too.
Parasite isn't just a one-off, either. For more than two decades, the acclaimed director has been making smart movies that continually surprise and delight — and continually defy categorisation. Bong delved into real-life murder mysteries in 2003's Memories of Murder, reinvented the creature feature with 2006 standout The Host, and used 2009's Mother to explore an unnerving family relationship. And, alongside Parasite, they're all getting a big-screen run at Golden Age Cinema & Bar's new The Best of Bong Joon-ho season.
Only picking four of Bong's movies to showcase must've been tricky — but all four in the spotlight are masterpieces.
You can catch them at the Surry Hills cinema on Friday nights in August at 8.30pm, with Memories of Murder also getting a second showing at 8.20pm on Sunday, August 28.
