Bong Joon-Ho Making Oscars Kiss

Origin

At the 2020 Academy Awards, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite made history as the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture, part of a night in which the director collected multiple awards. Backstage afterward, Bong was photographed playfully holding two of his Oscar statuettes so that they appeared to lean in and kiss. The candid, joyful image captured the giddiness of a landmark win. It spread online almost immediately as a wholesome highlight of the ceremony.

Meaning & usage

The photo is shared to express pure delight and celebration, or to comically ‘pair up’ two winners or two things that go perfectly together. It reads as a rare moment of unguarded joy from an acclaimed filmmaker, which is a big part of its warmth. People use it to mark their own triumphs or to imagine two beloved characters, brands, or ideas as a match. The tone is affectionate and celebratory rather than ironic.

Notable examples

• Captioned to celebrate a personal win or a long-awaited success.
• Used to jokingly pair two things that belong together.
• Circulated widely as part of Parasite’s historic awards-season sweep.