women

What you may not have noticed about Parasite, Hair Love, and #Oscars2020

What you may not have noticed about Parasite, Hair Love, and #Oscars2020

My heart is bursting.  “Parasite" producer, Kwak Sin Ae, said, "I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now."  She is absolutely right.  One important note about #Oscars2020 is that at least a few of the filmmakers recognized are not only of color, they are WOMEN.  I was incredibly proud to show our children the videos of Kwak Sin Ae and Miky Lee (both women) accepting the historic Best Picture award on behalf of "Parasite" and to show them Karen Rupert Toliver accepting on behalf of "Hair Love," which I was also so, so happy to see win last night.  As Toliver said during her speech, "Representation matters deeply" and last night the Oscars took a step forward in highlighting that.  And the fact that Parasite resonated with audiences everywhere shows how we are all the same. These universal themes of rich versus poor, economic inequality, greed, desperation to improve one’s station in life, and conflicts of conscience connect us regardless of nationality or country. That having been said, the fact that this is a South Korean film - embraced and appreciated by American audiences and the Academy is also meaningful to me.