Bong Joon-Ho names his favourite British comedy
Since making his directorial debut at the dawn of the century, Bong Joon-Ho has become one of the most important names in contemporary cinema. Between the chilling Memories of Murder, the monstrous The Host, and the moving Okja, the director has continually proven his gift for genre-blending filmmaking marked by social commentary and slick cinematography.
After honing his distinctive style for almost two decades, Bong found mammoth success with Parasite in 2019. A tale of class criticism, the sleek film utilised staircases and smells to scrutinise wealth disparities and parasitism, showing unparalleled attention to detail in its storytelling and filmmaking. It transcended any constrictions of genre, pushing dark comedic quips through its tense atmosphere.
More than its disregard for genre conventions, Parasite also transcended expectations in award season. Bong’s filmmaking was rightfully lauded by critics and audiences alike, and the film took home the award for ‘Best Picture’ at the 2020 Academy Awards ceremony, making it the first film not in the English language to do so.
Cinephiles and casual cinema-goers alike are patiently awaiting the next offering from Bong – Mickey 17, a sci-fi project starring Robert Pattinson, Toni Collete and Steven Yeun – while relying on Parasite and Snowpiercer rewatches in the meantime. Fortunately, the director has littered his interviews with recommendations to keep us going amidst the delays to his own work.
While speaking with Le Cinéma Club, the talented director divulged five of his favourite films, including a modern entry into British independent comedy. In between picks from Federico Fellini and Abraham Polonsky, Bong shared his love for Lenny Abraham’s 2014 dark, quirky comedy Frank, written by Jon Ronson.
The film follows Michael Fassbender as the titular character, an eccentric art rock band frontman who dons a huge papier-mâché head inspired by real-life frontman and comedian Chris Sievey. With supporting performances from Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film found a cult following and became a personal favourite of Bong’s.
The story of a British indie band may seem worlds away from the monster at the centre of The Host or the dystopian train that provides the setting for Snowpiercer, but Abrahamson and Bong show a similar penchant for bending genre and dark comedy. Infused with absurdity and humanity in equal measure, it’s easy to see how the film endeared itself to the Parasite director.
Frank hasn’t quite become a staple in British comedy, but it is an endearing modern entry into the genre with one of the highest forms of praise to its name: the approval of Bong. For fans eagerly awaiting the next offering from the South Korean director, it’s a worthy way to pass the time.
Watch the trailer for Frank below.
